§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate, for gas and electricity, the amount of assistance provided to small consumers, tabulating, for the latest date for which figures are available (a) the total amount of assistance provided for consumers of (i) gas and (ii) electricity, (b) the average payment and (c) the percentage of total consumers in each industry represented by these payments; and if he proposes to raise the levels of assistance available to compensate for inflation.
Mr. Buchannan-SmithHelp with fuel costs is available under the social security system for those on supplementary benefit. Small consumers are covered by schemes operated by British Gas Corporation and the area electricity boards whereby standing charges are limited in small bills. In 1983–84 the total cost of these schemes to BGC was £41.7 million arid to the electricity supply industry £14·6 million. Twenty-one per cent. of gas consumers and 11 per cent. of electricity consumers received some rebate under the schemes. The average 217W rebate was around £5 per quarterly bill for gas and about £2 for electricity. Decisions on the future of the schemes are a matter for the industries.