To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to review the standing charges for gas consumers who use prepayment meters. [65970]

I believe that it is essential to tackle issues surrounding fuel poverty. In this respect, I have on a number of occasions made my concerns clear to both the Director General of Gas Supply and to the gas industry. Following on from this, the Director General is currently looking at ways of revising of Ofgas Social Dimension Action Plan to identify actions which will provide solutions to the problems of the fuel poor, including looking at ways of reducing the costs of prepayment meters, and at addressing the needs of other low income customers who pay by other methods.