asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he has given to the proposals of the Electricity Consumers Council with regard to fuel debts, disconnections and the avoidance of hardships; and if he will make a statement on the proposals.

These proposals concern the gas and electricity industries' code of practice on the payment of bills and are in the first instance a matter for them. I expect to receive shortly from the industries the response I have requested from them to the recent review of the code by the Policy Studies Institute. The Electricity Consumers Council has, I understand, discussed its proposals with the Electricity Council in this context.