§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will issue a direction to gas and electricity boards requiring them to end the practice of making a standing charge to households that do not consume any gas or electricity;
(2) if he will take steps to abolish the right of the gas and electricity boards to charge an annual standing charge even where no gas or electricity is consumed and no meter reader takes meter readings.
§ Mr. John MooreNo. The standing charge in electricity and gas tariffs reflects costs incurred by the industries, which are unrelated to the amount of energy consumed, including servicing the connection between the mains and the consumer's premises.