§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Energy which area electricity boards are not ensuring that standard charges should be limited to a maximum of half of a domestic consumer's bill.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIn response to a proposal by my right hon. Friend the previous Secretary of State, most area electricity boards are limiting standing charges to one half of the total domestic bill. However, the south-eastern board is limiting the standing charge to one half only at zero consumption, with a sliding reduction hereafter; and the north-eastern board is not applying the rebate scheme to prepayment customers. Representations have been received about this, and I regret that these boards have not adopted my right hon. Friend's proposal in full.