12. Mr. KENNEDY JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that under the Temporary Increases of Charges Act, 1918, the town council of the borough of Hornsey applied some months ago for an order to permit them to increase the maximum charge per electric light unit from 8d. to 10d.; that the Board of Trade are withholding their consent, and are pressing the claims of a private electric light company to supply the corporation in bulk, despite the fact that the corporation is adequately equipped with ample reserves of plant, and that proposals for a national scheme of bulk supply are now under the consideration of the Government; and will he explain why the Board, in connection with matters relating to electrical undertakings, puts forward, at the suggestion of men who are directors or employés of some of the large electricity companies, the desirability of corporations obtaining bulk supplies from private companies pending the production of the Government scheme?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe town council applied for an order at the end of January last. After consideration of the circumstances of the case, the Board decided to defer giving a decision until the results were known of the operation of the undertaking for the quarter ending, the 31st March. This information has not yet been supplied. The Board also inquired of the council whether they had considered the question of taking a supply of electricity in bulk from the North Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Company, or from any other source. There is no ground whatever for the suggestion contained in the latter part of the hon. Member's question. The inquiry in the Hornsey case 557 was made solely on account of the council's high working costs. Subsequently the North Metropolitan Company addressed a letter to the Board of Trade indicating their readiness to discuss terms with the council for a supply of electricity in bulk. A copy of that letter has been sent to the council for their observations in connection with the inquiry previously addressed to them.
Mr. JONESIs it not a fact that on the Electricity Power Supply Committee there are representatives of vested interests, and does my right hon. Friend think it a desirable arrangement that these representatives of vested interests should have any control of the policy of the central authority in regard to representations which are made to local corporations?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe hon. Member is surely under a misunderstanding in the matter. This is the policy of the Board of Trade, and the policy of the Board of Trade in this matter is inspired by the high working costs.
Mr. JONESBut does not the Board of Trade consider it inadvisable to suggest bulk supplies pending the production of the Government scheme?
§ Sir A. GEDDESNo. At present it is desirable that electricity should be supplied as cheaply as possible. It is not desirable that money should be wasted on high working costs.
Mr. JONESIs it desirable that the Board of Trade should suggest that corporations already having a plentiful supply of material and machinery should be advised to have bulk supplies in order that in the event of the Government scheme materialising private companies should thereby be fortified in their demands for compensation?
§ Sir A. GEDDESMy hon. Friend is suggesting motives which I can assure him did not operate at all. In the special circumstances of this case it is desirable that there should be less charges required for electricity. If that could be adopted anywhere surely it is an advantage.