§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what changes have been made as a result of the electricity privatisation legislation concerning the distribution companies' ability to cut off the electricity supply to households during periods of cold weather.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe public electricity supply licences issued to the regional electricity companies under the Electricity Act 1989 require them to produce a code of practice on payment of bills and to draw up methods for dealing with customers in debt. The Director General of Electricity Supply has now approved the code and methods submitted by Yorkshire Electricity and the submissions of the other companies are expected to be approved shortly. Disconnections now stand at their lowest level since records began, and the Director General has stated that one of his priorities is to secure a continuing and significant reduction in disconnections.