Early Day Motions

TOKEN METER BACK CHARGING

EDM (Early Day Motion) 154: tabled on 20 November 2006

Tabled in the 2006-07 session.

This motion has been signed by 91 Members. It has received 1 amendment.

As this motion is using historical data, we may not have the record of the original ordering, in which case signatories are listed alphabetically.

Amendment to this motion

There has been an amendment submitted to this motion.

View details of the amendment

Motion text

That this House notes with concern that the practice of collecting back charges from customers who have not had their token electricity prepayment meters recalibrated to reflect energy price rises threatens up to 1.175 million households across Great Britain with increasing levels of unexpected debt, leaving households frequently facing instant arrears of up to £150 and in one case of £853 in addition to an overnight price shock when the meter is eventually recalibrated; further notes that users of token meters, many of whom are on low incomes, choose this method precisely in order to avoid debt; is surprised that the four companies, British Gas, Scottish Power, npower and Powergen, persist in this practice rather than following the example of Scottish and Southern Energy and EDF Energy, which do not apply price rises until their token meters have been recalibrated; urges all electricity suppliers which continue to collect back charges to follow this lead; and calls on the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets to use its licence review to eliminate the practice of token meter back charging altogether.

The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.

Donohoe, Mr Brian H.
Labour
Signed on 20 November 2006
Central Ayrshire
Primary
Russell, Bob
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 20 November 2006
Colchester
Hood, Mr Jim
Labour
Signed on 20 November 2006
Lanark and Hamilton East
McFall, Mr John
Labour
Signed on 20 November 2006
West Dunbartonshire
Spink, Bob
Conservative
Signed on 20 November 2006
Castle Point
Alexander, Danny
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 20 November 2006
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey

In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.

Anderson, Mr David
Labour
Signed on 6 December 2006
Blaydon
Beith, Sir Alan
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 7 December 2006
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Bercow, John
Conservative
Signed on 21 February 2007
Buckingham
Bottomley, Sir Peter
Conservative
Signed on 22 November 2006
Worthing West
Breed, Mr Colin
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 22 November 2006
South East Cornwall
Brooke, Annette
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 10 January 2007
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Buck, Ms Karen
Labour
Signed on 28 November 2006
Regent's Park and Kensington North
Burt, Lorely
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 10 January 2007
Solihull
Caton, Mr Martin
Labour
Signed on 22 November 2006
Gower
Clark, Greg
Conservative
Signed on 8 January 2007
Tunbridge Wells
Clark, Ms Katy
Labour
Signed on 22 November 2006
North Ayrshire and Arran
Conway, Derek
Conservative
Signed on 21 November 2006
Old Bexley and Sidcup
Crausby, Mr David
Labour
Signed on 22 November 2006
Bolton North East
Cryer, Mrs Ann
Labour
Signed on 23 November 2006
Keighley
Curry, Mr David
Conservative
Signed on 24 January 2007
Skipton and Ripon
Davies, Dai
Independent
Signed on 18 December 2006
Blaenau Gwent
Dean, Mrs Janet
Labour
Signed on 23 November 2006
Burton
Dorrell, Mr Stephen
Conservative
Signed on 8 January 2007
Charnwood
Duddridge, James
Conservative
Signed on 2 May 2007
Rochford and Southend East
Durkan, Mark
Social Democratic & Labour Party
Signed on 20 November 2006
Foyle
Ennis, Jeff
Labour
Signed on 23 November 2006
Barnsley East and Mexborough
Etherington, Bill
Labour
Signed on 4 December 2006
Sunderland North
Gapes, Mike
Labour
Signed on 1 March 2007
Ilford South
George, Andrew
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 20 November 2006
St Ives
Gibson, Dr Ian
Labour
Signed on 6 December 2006
Norwich North
Godsiff, Mr Roger
Labour
Signed on 29 November 2006
Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath
Griffith, Nia
Labour
Signed on 12 December 2006
Llanelli
Grogan, Mr John
Labour
Signed on 5 December 2006
Selby
Hamilton, Mr David
Labour
Signed on 23 November 2006
Midlothian
Hancock, Mr Mike
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 21 November 2006
Portsmouth South
Harris, Dr Evan
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 23 November 2006
Oxford West and Abingdon
Harvey, Nick
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 22 November 2006
North Devon
Hemming, John
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 23 November 2006
Birmingham, Yardley
Hendry, Charles
Conservative
Signed on 12 December 2006
Wealden
Hepburn, Mr Stephen
Labour
Signed on 10 January 2007
Jarrow
Heyes, David
Labour
Signed on 5 December 2006
Ashton-under-Lyne
Hodgson, Mrs Sharon
Labour
Signed on 4 December 2006
Gateshead East and Washington West
Holmes, Paul
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 22 November 2006
Chesterfield
Hoyle, Mr Lindsay
Labour
Signed on 28 November 2006
Chorley
Iddon, Dr Brian
Labour
Signed on 6 December 2006
Bolton South East
Illsley, Mr Eric
Labour
Signed on 23 November 2006
Barnsley Central
Jackson, Glenda
Labour
Signed on 21 November 2006
Hampstead and Highgate
Jenkins, Mr Brian
Labour
Signed on 23 November 2006
Tamworth
Jones, Lynne
Labour
Signed on 21 November 2006
Birmingham, Selly Oak
Lamb, Norman
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 21 February 2007
North Norfolk
Lazarowicz, Mark
Labour
Signed on 21 November 2006
Edinburgh North and Leith
Leech, Mr John
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 21 November 2006
Manchester, Withington
Lloyd, Tony
Labour
Signed on 29 November 2006
Manchester Central
MacDougall, Mr John
Labour
Signed on 18 December 2006
Glenrothes
Main, Anne
Conservative
Signed on 24 January 2007
St Albans
Mallaber, Judy
Labour
Signed on 21 June 2007
Amber Valley
Maples, Mr John
Conservative
Signed on 2 February 2007
Stratford-on-Avon
Marris, Rob
Labour
Signed on 4 December 2006
Wolverhampton South West
Marsden, Mr Gordon
Labour
Signed on 13 December 2006
Blackpool South
Marshall, Mr David
Labour
Signed on 16 January 2007
Glasgow East
McCafferty, Chris
Labour
Signed on 22 November 2006
Calder Valley
McDonnell, Dr Alasdair
Social Democratic & Labour Party
Signed on 22 November 2006
Belfast South
McDonnell, John
Labour
Signed on 27 November 2006
Hayes and Harlington
McGovern, Mr Jim
Labour
Signed on 22 November 2006
Dundee West
McKechin, Ann
Labour
Signed on 21 November 2006
Glasgow North
Meale, Mr Alan
Labour
Signed on 28 November 2006
Mansfield
Miller, Andrew
Labour
Signed on 14 December 2006
Ellesmere Port and Neston
Moffatt, Laura
Labour
Signed on 8 March 2007
Crawley
Morgan, Julie
Labour
Signed on 27 November 2006
Cardiff North
Owen, Albert
Labour
Signed on 21 November 2006
Ynys Môn
Robinson, Mrs Iris
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 22 November 2006
Strangford
Rogerson, Dan
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 18 January 2007
North Cornwall
Salmond, Mr Alex
Scottish National Party
Signed on 27 November 2006
Banff and Buchan
Sanders, Mr Adrian
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 27 March 2007
Torbay
Selous, Andrew
Conservative
Signed on 9 January 2007
South West Bedfordshire
Simpson, Alan
Labour
Signed on 30 November 2006
Nottingham South
Smith, John
Labour
Signed on 7 December 2006
Vale of Glamorgan
Swinson, Jo
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 29 November 2006
East Dunbartonshire
Taylor, David
Labour
Signed on 21 November 2006
North West Leicestershire
Taylor, Dr Richard
Independent
Signed on 12 December 2006
Wyre Forest
Tipping, Paddy
Labour
Signed on 28 November 2006
Sherwood
Todd, Mr Mark
Labour
Signed on 27 November 2006
South Derbyshire
Vis, Dr Rudi
Labour
Signed on 29 November 2006
Finchley and Golders Green
Widdecombe, Miss Ann
Conservative
Signed on 20 March 2007
Maidstone and The Weald
Williams, Mrs Betty
Labour
Signed on 27 November 2006
Conwy
Williams, Mark
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 21 November 2006
Ceredigion
Wood, Mike
Labour
Signed on 18 December 2006
Batley and Spen
Wright, Jeremy
Conservative
Signed on 1 February 2007
Rugby and Kenilworth

These members had previously signed the motion, but have now withdrawn their support. The date shown is when the Member withdrew their signature from the motion.

Johnson, Ms Diana R.
Labour
Signature withdrawn on 21 February 2007
Kingston upon Hull North
Tami, Mark
Labour
Signature withdrawn on 19 March 2007
Alyn and Deeside

After a motion has been tabled, other Members can table amendments to it. Amendments to this motion are shown below.

TOKEN METER BACK CHARGING (Amendment 1)
leave out from `the' to `Scottish' and insert `three companies,'.
Mr Jim Cunningham
Labour, Coventry South
2
signatures
EDM 154A1: tabled on 6 December 2006