§ 62. Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will consider revising the code of practice governing the discontinuation of gas and electricity supplies to ensure that these supplies are not to be terminated for consumers who are disabled, elderly, ill and families with young children under any circumstances during the months of November to March.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe code of practice governing disconnections of gas and electricity supplies to domestic consumers was voluntarily adopted by the industries and its revision is primarily a matter for them. The Government have however taken and will continue to take an interest in the operation of the code. This was revised in 1982 following an independent review by the Policy Studies Institute and makes special provision for those consumers who may suffer real hardship such as the elderly, severely sick, the disabled and those with young children. Operation of the revised code is at present being monitored by the gas consumers and electricity consultative councils who will report their conclusions to the industries and to me.