Examination of Witnesses (Questions 97-99)
22 JUNE 2004
Ms Jenny Saunders, and Mr Richard Wilson
Q97 Chairman: Welcome, Mr Wilson. We
have you down as `tbc'to be confirmedso could you
maybe introduce yourself and Ms Saunders, and we will get started.
Mr Wilson: I am Richard Wilson,
a policy officer on income issues at Help the Aged.
Ms Saunders: I am Jenny Saunders,
Director of Communications at National Energy Action.
Q98 Chairman: I think you have been in
for the evidence so far, so you see how we are going round the
track. Energywatch has provided us with results of its research
into the scale of the problem of fuel debt and the types of people
principally affected. I think you probably heard what they had
to say. Do you agree with their findings? In your view, what sort
of percentage of those disconnected cannot pay as opposed to will
not pay? What is your take on that?
Ms Saunders: Can I start? National
Energy Action takes a view that we do not like this terminology
at all: the `can't-payers/won't payers'. We have been around the
block a long time and this issue is quite emotive. There are a
number of people who find themselves in a position that they cannot
pay their bills, for a whole range of reasons, and to just lump
them into these two definitions I think is quite dangerous. Whilst
we recognise the commendable aims of this exercise in trying to
identify people who are vulnerable, the `can't-payers', as the
industry would call them, our starting point would be to say that
they are not really able to achieve what they are going to set
out to do through this exercise. It is unfair distinctions they
are making between customers.
Q99 Chairman: That is a question of definition,
but you have not told us the numbers. Can you give us any indication
of what you think are the numbers?
Ms Saunders: Between the `can't-payers'
and the `won't-payers' who are disconnected?
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