§ 63. Sir DOUGLAS NEWTONasked the Minister of Transport if he is prepared to arrange that a representative of rural interests be appointed to the Electricity Commission?
§ Colonel ASHLEYIt would not, in my view, be desirable to appoint on the Electricity Commission representatives of particular interests, however important, though I am in complete sympathy with my hon. Friend's desire that rural interests should be borne in mind in connection with electricity schemes.
§ Sir D. NEWTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the development of electricity in rural areas on the Continent has been much more rapid and widespread than in this country; and does he not think that this is in part due to the representation of rural interests on the electrical commissions of those countries?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI do not agree with my hon. Friend. Rural development has not been rapid in this country, but I am now considering very carefully whether any scheme can be devised which might alter this state of things.