§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the number of domestic consumers disconnected for debt by each electricity and gas board during the three months ended 31 December 1981.
§ Mr. MellorThe figures are as follows: 285W
Area Electricity Board London 4,864 South Eastern 841 Southern 890 South Western 522 Eastern 1,988 East Midlands 2,699 Midlands 1,700 South Wales 964 Merseyside and North Wales 2,328 Yorkshire 3,620 North Eastern 1,214 North Western 2,020 Total 23,650
Gas Region Scottish 464 Northern 403 North Western 832 North Eastern 189 East Midlands 607 West Midlands 1,088 Wales 85 Eastern 327 North Thames 1,341 South Eastern 767 Southern 208 South Western 21 Total 6,332
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many households had their electricity disconnected in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 and to the latest available date in 1981.
§ Mr. MellorThe figures are as follows:
Calender Year Total Disconnections 1977 83,650 1978 88,559 1979 88,790 1980 122,702 1981 109,051
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many domestic disconnections took place in the gas and electricity industries in 1981, compared with 1980; and how many prepayment meters were installed in place of credit meters.
§ Mr. MellorIn 1981, compared with 1980, the number of domestic disconnections decreased significantly in both the electricity and gas industries while the number of prepayment meters installed increased:
Year ending December 1980 Year ending December 1981 Percentage Change DISCONNECTIONS Electricity 122,702 109,042 -11 Gas 41,846 28,659 -33 INSTALLATION OF PREPAYMENT METERS Electricity 97,300 131,251 +35 Gas 14,559 41,336 +184 I am very pleased to see this fall in the number of disconnections, and I welcome the initiative taken by the gas and electricity industries in installing more prepayment meters.