§ 43. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Transport if he can account for the fact that the Electricity Commissioners estimate a saving of only £90,276 to West Ham under the South-East England scheme, while the City of London Electric Company is estimated to save £825,182 on a smaller quantity of electricity consumed; and why, in view of the greater efficiency of the West Ham station, it is proposed to reduce the output of that station from 100 million units per annum to 5½ million units and thus throw idle a large quantity of up-to-date and efficient plant?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe saving which the Commissioners estimate will result to a particular undertaker depends on the estimated cost of the supply from the Board as compared with continued independent operation. These matters are at present the subject of representations to the Central Electricity Board. The use to which a selected station will be put in the production of electricity for the Board will depend upon the operation of the scheme by the Board and will be adjusted so as to secure the most economical use of the stations as a whole.
§ 52. Mr. THURTLEasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Shoreditch Borough Council anticipate that the South-East England electricity scheme will involve a loss to consumers in the borough of £33,700 a year, instead of the saving of £20,600 estimated by the Electricity Commissioners; and whether he proposes to ask the Central Electricity Board to hold a public inquiry before approving the scheme?
§ 53. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the estimated saving of £90,276 to West Ham 2086 under the South-East England electricity scheme is regarded as quite illusory by the corporation of that borough, which estimates that a loss to its consumers of £153,368 in the next five years will result from the application of the scheme in its present form; and if he will refer the matter to the Central Electricity Board to hold a public inquiry, as requested by a large number of authorised undertakers in the area, before proceeding further with the scheme?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am informed by the Central Electricity Board that all representations made to them to the effect that the savings estimated in connection with the South-East England electricity scheme are not likely to be realised will be carefuly considered before the scheme is adopted.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, whether he proposes to ask the Central Electricity Board to hold a public inquiry?
§ Colonel ASHLEYAs the hon. Member well knows, by Section 4 of the Act of last year the question as to what inquiry, if any, shall be held, is specifically left to the discretion of the Board.
§ Colonel ASHLEYMy hon. and gallant Friend is as well able to judge of that as I am, by reading Section 4 of the Act.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONHas the right hon. Gentleman received any information as to whether the Board intends to hold an inquiry?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo, I cannot say anything on that subject.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDo hon. Gentlemen opposite not now realise the effect of the semi-Socialistic Act which they helped to pass?