Electricity Supplies: Interruption

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 2:30 pm on 3 December 2002.

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Photo of Lord Sainsbury of Turville Lord Sainsbury of Turville Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Science and Innovation), Department of Trade and Industry, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Trade and Industry) (Science and Innovation) 2:30, 3 December 2002

My Lords, I cannot do that. All I can say is that the first of the studies, which was carried out earlier this year, looked at whether the companies were less able to deal with emergencies because of reduced manpower. The study found that this was not the case. The companies are as well placed now as previously to deal with emergencies. The position after the storm in 1987 was much worse—probably because the storm was much worse—and it took three weeks to restore supplies to everyone. It is not a question of the service getting worse; if anything it is getting better.