§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances electricity and gas supplies can be disconnected in homes in Northern Ireland between 1 October and 31 March when all members of the household are receiving supplementary benefit and have no savings.
§ Mr. Adam Butler[pursuant to his reply, 9 June 1981]: The electricity and gas industries follow an agreed and published code of practice in these matters. Under that code where all those with an income in any household are old-age pensioners and except where it is clear that such consumers can pay, supplies are not cut off between 1 October and 31 March.
In other cases, including those where all the members of a household are in receipt of supplementary benefit, the code provides safeguards against disconnection while the 153W circumstances are examined by the Department of Health and Social Services. In general, disconnections are only made where consumers are two or more quarters in arrears and where the case cannot be dealt with by arrangements for direct deduction from supplementary benefit or where the consumer and the undertaking concerned are unable to conclude a voluntary agreement for discharge of the debt.