§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will strengthen consumer representation covering the electricity industry.
§ Mr. EggarI am satisfied that the electricity consumers' committees represent consumer interest effectively and have no plans to change the structure or the scope of their remit. The Director General of Electricity Supply is responsible for the appointment of the committees' members.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the change in electricity prices since 1989.
§ Mr. EggarThe latest figures available show that domestic electricity prices fell by 0.4 per cent. in real terms between the third quarter of 1989 and the third quarter of 1993. Over the same period, average industrial electricity prices fell by about 4 per cent. in real terms.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will commission a report on the impact of electricity price rises on low-income consumers.
§ Mr. EggarI have no plans to commission such a report. Domestic electricity prices have broadly remained stable since privatisation.