§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give greater publicity to codes of practice agreed with service industries.
§ Mr. NewtonI assume that the hon. Member has in mind the code of practice on the payment of fuel bills. The gas and electricity industries, in consultation with their national consumer councils, are currently preparing a revised code of practice leaflet incorporating the changes that were announced by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Energy on 29 March. [Vol. 21, c.25.]. When it is published, copies will be available in the industries's showrooms and through citizens advice bureaux and area consultative councils.
The joint statement of intent agreed between this Department and the fuel industries sets out the arrangements for operating the fuel direct scheme. New arrangements have recently been agreed with the industries, which I announced to the House on 7 April—[Vol. 21, c. 398–9.]—and the joint statement of intent is now being revised accordingly. A copy of the revised statement will be placed in the Library in due course and will be circulated to all DHSS local offices and to the fuel boards.