§ MR. H. M. STANLEY (Lambeth, N.)On behalf of the hon. Member for Westminster (Mr. BURDETT-COUTTS), I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the notice recently issued by the Kensington and Knightsbridge Electric Lighting Company to their consumers intimating their intention to increase the voltage of the current supplied from 100 to 200, and calling upon the consumers to adapt their fittings at their own expense to comply with the altered voltage, was issued with the sanction of the Board of Trade; and, whether compliance with such notice is legally binding on the consumers?
§ MR. RITCHIEI have not seen the notice referred to, but the sanction of the Board of Trade to any such notice is not required. Under the Board of Trade Regulations any change of standard pressure by the Kensington and Knights-bridge Electric Lighting Company is subject to the approval of the County Council and not of the Board of Trade. No provision is made for a reference to the Board of Trade, except on appeal by the Company against any decision of the County Council. No change is allowable in the pressure of the supply to any premises which on March 4th 1896, the date of the Board of Trade Regulations, were supplied with energy by the Company, except with the consent of the consumer.