§ MR. WADDY (Lincolnshire, Brigg)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can explain the circumstances under which the Board of Trade have refused the application of three Limited Companies for Parliamentary powers to supply electric lighting to the Borough of Leeds, notwithstanding the important demand for the electric light by the inhabitants; and whether this refusal was in consequence of the opposition of the Local Authority; and, if so, can he state whether the Local Authority has taken any steps itself to apply for powers for supplying Leeds with the electric light?
§ *SIR MICHAEL HICKS BEACHThe Board of Trade refused to proceed with the applications of the three companies referred to in consequence of their not 1534 having obtained the consent of the Local Authority, as required by the Statute. The Corporation of Leeds state that a Committee of their body are engaged in an exhaustive and costly examination of the question of the supply of electricity, and they ask that the matter may be postponed until next year. The Board of Trade, in these circumstances, declined to dispense with the consent of the Corporation, but informed that body that, in the event of their not being prepared to apply for powers themselves next year, the Department would have to consider whether they could refuse to grant powers to other Promoters.
§ MR. WADDYIs it not a fact that the only step taken was the appointment of this Committee four months ago?
§ *SIR MICHAEL HICKS BEACHI understand that the Committee has been proceeding with its inquiry.