§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disconnections have been referred to his Department by area electricity boards under current code of practice arrangements in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available; of these, how many and what proportion have been assisted financially by his Department; on what grounds; and what were the principal grounds for referred cases not to be assisted.
§ Dr. BoysonInformation is not available in the form requested. In the year to December 1982, about 15,000 payments were made under Single Payments Regulation 20, which provides for the cost of pre-payment meters and reconnection charges to be met in certain circumstances. Claimants threatened with disconnection are normally referred to DHSS to see whether they can be put on the fuel direct scheme. In December 1982 there were about 120,000 claimants with fuel direct deductions for electricity.