THERE were calls last night for a review of the law after an elderly couple were found dead in their home weeks after their gas supply was cut off.
George Bates, 89, and his 86-year old wife Gertrude were found in a decomposed state in October in the south London house they had shared for 64 years.
A few weeks earlier their gas supply had been cut off due to non-payment of a (pounds) 140 bill.
British Gas said the Data Protection Act prohibited them from passing information on the situation to social services.
Coroner Dr Paul Knapman told an inquest at Westminster Coroners' Court that he would contact the Information Commissioner to bring to his attention what he described as ''a very tragic story''.
Neighbours in Salterton Road, Tooting, raised the alarm when they realised they had not seen the couple for some time. Police called at their house on October 18 and found the pair dead.
It was later confirmed that Mr Bates had died from hypothermia, emphysema, and coronary heart disease and his wife from coronary heart disease.
Earlier in the year a British Gas employee called at the house to inquire about the non-payment of a bill for (pounds) 140.62, which included some arrears.
Michael Johnson, a field representative for British Gas Tradings, said he called at the house on June 9. He spoke to Mrs Bates and asked her about the outstanding balance.
He said she told him the local authority was going to deal with it. Mr Johnson said she understood him very
clearly, but added that she was ''very abrupt''.
He offered the option of installing a pre-payment meter, but the householder refused.
The gas supply was cut off on August 1 when a gas official with a warrant to recover the debt got no reply.
Dr Knapman, concluding a verdict of accidental death for both Mr and Mrs Bates said: ''I shall write to the Information Commissioner and bring to his attention the fact that this disconnection could not be brought to the attention of the social services because of the provisions of the Data Protection Act for such action as he may think fit.''
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