HC Deb 23 April 2002 vol 384 cc214-5W
Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2002,Official Report, column 381W, on energy markets, what action her Department has taken since May 2001 in regard to bringing the benefits of market liberalisation to rural consumers. [51950]

Mr. Wilson

The benefits of energy liberalisation have been extended to rural consumers. Research undertaken by OFGEM shows that 35 per cent. of gas customers and 32 per cent. of electricity customers in rural areas have switched supplier, compared with 38 per cent. of gas customers and 41 per cent. of electricity customers in urban areas. The differences in the rate of customer switching in rural areas are in part due to the inability of consumers in areas without mains gas to take up "dual fuel" deals.

To address this, the Government have established a working group to look at issues surrounding extension of the gas network, as part of their Fuel Poverty Strategy. The group reported in November 2001 and its report was published on the DTI website http://www2.dti.gov.uk/ energy/gasnetworks/index.htm. The Government are considering how the report's recommendations can best be taken forward.

Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2002,Official Report, column 380, on energy markets, what her Department's definition of the term 'vulnerable consumers' is. [51952]

Mr. Wilson

There is no definition of the term "vulnerable customers" in draft energy market liberalisation legislation under discussion in the European Council and Parliament. Member States will therefore be free to define the term in any national implementing legislation. The definition used in the UK for the purpose of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy is as follows: "vulnerable households are those at risk of ill-health from cold conditions—older householders, families with children and households who are disabled or suffering from a long-term illness".

Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2002,Official Report, column 380W, on energy markets, if it is the UK Government's policy not to take a position on individual European Parliament amendments that are not included in the European Commission's revised text. [51951]

Mr. Wilson

The UK Government do not take a position on individual European Parliament amendments not included in the Commission's revised text. Approximately 500 amendments to the internal market legislation currently under discussion were tabled by MEPs, around 150 of which were accepted in the European Parliament's Plenary vote. It is now up to the Commission to decide which amendments to accept and to present these to the council in a revised text. It would be pointless to take a position on every amendment as the majority of them will not appear in the revised Commission proposal.