GAS REGULATION ACT, 1920. (Hansard, 4 March 1924)

§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. A. V. Alexander)
I beg to move That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under Section 10 of the Gas Regulation Act, 1920, on the application of the Marple Urban District Council, which was presented on the 15th January and published, be approved. The Amendment on the Paper in the form in which it has been tabulated will be acceptable to the Board of Trade, provided the interested parties concerned will be willing to attend the inquiry before the Select Committee.

§ Mr. REMER
I beg to move to leave out the word "approved," and to add instead thereof the words referred to a Select Committee of Four Members appointed by the Committee of Selection for their Report, which shall state whether, in their opinion, the Order should be approved with or without modifications or additions, setting out the modifications or additions, if any, which they propose, or should not be approved, and shall be laid before the House together with a copy of the Order showing the modifications and additions, if any, proposed by the Committee. That the proceedings of the Committee to which the Order is referred shall be conducted in like manner as in the case of a Provisional Order Confirmation Bill under Standing Order 151, and opponents of the Order shall be heard provided that a Statement of Objection has been deposited with the Board of Trade on or before the seventh day after the date of this Motion, but an opponent shall only be heard upon objections which have been distinctly specified in the Statement: That any Statement so deposited shall be laid upon the Table of the House by the Board of Trade and shall stand referred to the Committee: That if no Statement of Objection shall have been deposited within the specified time the reference to the Select Committee shall be discharged. I have communicated with those people who have grievances under this Order and they have given me an undertaking that they will appear in accordance with the request of the Board of Trade.

§ Mr. HANNON
I have put my name to the Amendment, and as the Parliamentary Secretary has met us in an excellent spirit and is prepared to accept the Amendment, we are quite prepared to leave the matter as it stands. Large ratepayers in these small communities must have adequate protection for the supply and the necessary power requirements by gas companies, and as the hon. Gentleman has accepted the conditions of the Amendment we are quite prepared to refer it to a Committee.