HC Deb 22 November 1999 vol 339 cc33-4W
Mr. Dobbin

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure that price reductions on prepayment meters are passed on to the consumer. [98492]

Mrs. Liddell

This is a matter for the Director General of Gas and Electricity Markets, who has recently proposed new price controls for the Public Electricity Suppliers, to come into force in April 2000, and with average price cuts of 10 per cent. The Director General is currently considering the price control for British Gas Trading, and will announce that soon. Prepayment meter customers should benefit, as do other customers, from general reductions in prices. In addition, the Director General has proposed that the prepayment meter surcharge, which reflects the additional amount these customers pay, should not exceed £15 a year (at present it varies by company, and is up to £27 a year). Second-tier electricity suppliers and competitors to British Gas Trading are not subject to price control, because they operate in a competitive market, in which the price-controlled incumbents set the benchmark price; and consumers are free to seek a new supplier if they wish.

Mr. Dobbin

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce legislation to give utility regulators a duty to protect the interests of low-income consumers. [98491]

(b) interim and expedited awards in respect of respiratory disease, (c) claims in respect of vibration white finger and (d) interim and general damage awards in respect of vibration white finger. [98681]

Mrs. Liddell

A county of residence breakdown is not available. However, the regional breakdown is as follows:

Mrs. Liddell

The Government are determined that disadvantaged consumers in the utility sectors should be properly protected, and that they should enjoy a fair share of the reduction in prices resulting from increased competition.

We shall introduce a Utilities Bill in this session, and a requirement to consider the interests of people on low incomes will be an important feature of the regulators' new primary duty to protect the interests of consumers, wherever possible and appropriate, through promoting effective competition.

We also intend, as part of the Bill, to give regulators a duty to have regard to statutory guidance issued by Ministers on social objectives relevant to their particular sector.