§ 19. Mr. SWANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will pay compensation to gas and electric lighting undertakings which held stocks of coal purchased before the. 10s. reduction in price, in order to enable these undertakings to make an immediate reduction in their charges for gas and electricity supplied for household purposes?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI fear that it is not practicable to adopt the suggestion made by the hon. Member.
Dr. MURRAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in certain areas in London the price of electricity has gone up since the reduction in the price of coal?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI am aware that in certain cases, which had been decided on before the reduction in the price of coal was announced, there has been an increase, and I think that the two cases are absolutely at one, but that does not mean that there will not be a reduction at the earliest possible moment.