CONDUCT OF UTILITIES SUPPLIERS

Early day motion 1721, tabled 24 September 2002 by Kerry Pollard (Labour). Signed by 40 members.

That this House recognises that many elderly and vulnerable people have been persuaded to change their utilities suppliers by salesmen on the doorstep; further recognises that changing suppliers is not always advisable for such people; notes that some representative of utilities companies do not always abide by a code of conduct in signing up new customers; condemns tactics such as asking children of householders to sign to acknowledge a visit and the forging of customers' signatures; and calls on the Government to introduce legislation to prevent such practices and to allow changes of supplier only on receipt of a signed request from the householder by post or by hand.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Liberal Democrat 8, Labour/Co-operative 3.