§ 16. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade what procedure his Department adopts before they allow London gas companies to increase their 10 charges to consumers under the Statutory Undertakings Temporary Increases of Charges Act, 1918?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe answer to this question is very lengthy, and with the permission of the House I will have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay we take it that there will be no increase in the statutory charges without the House being consulted?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe House passed the Statutory Undertakings Temporary Increase of Charges Act, 1918.
The following is the statement referred to:
The Board of Trade require that notice of any application made to them under the Act in question shall be served by the company upon all the local authorities within their area of supply. The application is also advertised in a local newspaper. The advertisement and notices must state that any representations in regard to the proposed increases of price should be sent to the Board of Trade and copies to the company within fourteen days. The Board also require the company to supply them with detailed statements showing the financial state of the undertaking, and estimates of the effect of the increased charge. The financial statements and estimates are carefully examined by the Department with the assistance of an accountant with a view to compliance with the requirement of the Act that no modification of the charging powers shall be authorised which is more than sufficient with due care and management to enable the dividend allowed by the Act to be paid. Any representations made to them by local, authorities or persons interested are considered, and if the Board of Trade are satisfied that the company are entitled to relief under the Act an Order is made accordingly. Provision, is made in the Order that no dividend shall be paid by the company until a certificate has been furnished to and accepted by the Board of Trade, signed by an accountant approved by them that the accounts of the company are correct and are compiled in accordance with the statutory requirements relating thereto; that the revenue account has not been debited with any expenditure of an. improper nature or 11 different in character from those usually debited by the company in the revenue account for any previous year, and if the amount carried forward to the following year is greater than the corresponding item in the preceding year, the certificate must contain a statement explanatory of the increase.