HC Deb 30 November 1925 vol 188 cc2007-10

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Special Order made by the Electricity Commissioners under the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1882 to 1922, and confirmed by the Minister of Transport under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, in respect of the urban district of Ashford and the rural district of West Ashford, in the county of Kent, which was presented on the 4th day of August, 1925, be approved."—[Colonel Ashley.]

Mr. LANSBURY

Are all these Electricity Orders to be taken to-night?

The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)

Yes.

Mr. LANSBURY

What is the hurry? I object.

Colonel ASHLEY

May I give an explanation to the hon. Member?

Mr. LANSBURY

It will not make any difference. If I have the power to stop them, I will stop them.

Mr. ALEXANDER

May I ask whether, in the case of each of these Orders for the development of electricity, the powers are being granted to local authorities or to private companies?

Colonel ASHLEY

In some cases—

Notice taken that 40 Members were not present; House counted, and 40 Members bring present—

Mr. LANSBURY

We challenged a Division.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Captain FitzRoy)

I have already put the Question, and collected the voices.

Mr. LANSBURY

I thought we made our objection heard.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Special Order made by the Electricity Commissioners under the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1832 to 1922, and confirmed by the Minister of Transport under the Electricity (Supply) Act,.1910, in respect of the urban district of Alton, in the county of Southampton, which was presented on the 7th day of July, 1925, be approved.— [Colonel Ashley.]

Mr. SCURR

Is the Minister going to reply to the question which was put to him?

Colonel ASHLEY

Certainly I will do so, if I get an opportunity. In some eases these schemes are put forward by the local authority, in some cases private companies are seeking the powers to give electricity to these various areas. These Orders have all been subjects of two public inquiries and have been up to another place, and we are now asking for their confirmation by this House. Last-Session we had a large number of such Orders, and as there have been public inquiries and as the schemes will lead to employment I ask the House to give the necessary confirmation.

Mr. ALEXANDER

I quite recognise that, but what I am anxious to point out is that there were two cases of private companies where we found abnormal rates being charged and we only want to use whatever power may exist to raise objection in those cases. We would like to know whether these Orders apply to public authorities or to one or other of these companies in whose cases we are anxious to exercise pressure.

Mr. LANSBURY

The whole question of electrical development is supposed to be under the consideration of the Government and we are told that a great national scheme is to be placed before us in a few months. Every time we give fresh powers to a private company we are setting up a vested interest which will have to be bought out, when that national scheme is being brought into operation. As to the right of objecting to these proposals at this hour of the night, I would recall to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury that when the Labour Government was in office many of these Orders were held up and we were only allowed to take them two or three at a time.

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Commander Eyres Monsell)

That is all we are asking.

Mr. LANSBURY

It is monstrous to ask the House to take them at half-past twelve o'clock. I hope, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, when you are gathering the voices, we may be able to make ourselves heard.

Mr. LANSBURY

On a point of Order. I should like to know whether this is Government business? It has no asterisk against it on the Order Paper. If I had known I think we could have been rather longer on the other business.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

These Orders are exempted business, and can always be taken after eleven o'clock.

Resolved, That the Special Order made by the Electricity Commissioners under the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1882 to 1922, and confirmed by the Minister of Transport under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, in respect of part of the rural district of Reigate, in the county of Surrey, which was presented on the 15th day of July, 1925, be approved.

Resolved, That the Special Order made by the Electricity Commissioners under the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1882 to 1922, and confirmed by the Minister of Transport under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, in respect of the urban district of Oundle and parts of the rural districts of Thrapston and Oundle, all in the county of Northampton, which was presented on the 28th day of July, 1925, be approved.

Resolved, That the Special Order made by the Electricity Commissioners under the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1882 to 1922, and confirmed by the Minister of Transport under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, in respect of the city of Wells, the borough of Glastonbury, the urban districts of High-bridge, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, and Shepton Mallet, part of the urban district of Burnham, the rural district of Cluttou, and parts of the rural districts of Axbridge, Bath, Frome, Keynsham, Shepton Mallet, and Wells, all in the county of Somerset, which was presented on the 28th day of July, 1925, he approved."—[Colonel Ashley.]

The remaining Government Orders were read, and postponed.

It being after half-past Eleven of the clock upon Monday evening, Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.

Adjourned at Twenty-five Minutes before One o'Clock.