§ 43. Mr. HARRISasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether the Electricity Commissioners have issued a Report on their work; and will such Report be submitted to Parliament?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe Commissioners have issued two Annual Reports which are on sale as Stationery Office publications. Their third Annual Report is in course of preparation. The Electricity (Supply) Acts do not provide for the submission of a Report by the Commissioners to Parliament. Under Section 30 of the Electric Lighting Act, 1882, however, the Minister of Transport is required to present to Parliament on or before 1st July in each year a Report of the applications to and proceedings before him under the Acts. Each of the Reports presented by the Minister contains a summary of the work of the Commissioners during the periods covered by the Reports. The last Report of the Minister was presented to the House of Commons on 28th June, 1923.
§ Mr. HARRISAre these Commissioners responsible to a Government Department or to Parliament, or are they a law to themselves? Should their Report be issued to Parliament?
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEIs it not a fact that these Commissioners are holding up a lot of work by refusing loans?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe Commissioners are responsible to me and I am responsible to Parliament.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs it not a fact that the effect of the Commissioners' work is to prevent a great deal of the chaos that previously existed?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThey are doing very valuable work indeed.