§ 4. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of recent increases in the price of gas and the wide public concern now being shown on account of greatly increased gas bills for the past quarter, he will require gas supply companies to render their accounts monthly instead of quarterly, so that the public may have more frequent opportunities of checking gas consumption and charges?
§ 5. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the exceptional increase of domestic gas bills in some parts of London and to the indignation caused thereby; and will he make inquiries into the desirability of taking power to check the consumption as recorded in the present meters?
§ 6. Mr. CAMPBELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the abnormal consumption of gas as indicated in the accounts rendered to consumers by the Gas Light and Coke Company during the quarter ended 25th March last; and whether he will consider appointing a committee of inquiry into this matter?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI will answer these questions together. My attention has been called to complaints as to gas bills rendered in respect of the March quarter. So far as the complaints are based on suggestions that charges have been made for quantities in excess of those actually consumed, it is already possible for any consumer to have his meter tested by an officer of the local authority of the district, in the London area—the London County Council. The consumer is already, therefore, safeguarded in this respect. As regards the suggestion that accounts should be rendered monthly, every consumer has on his meter a continuous record whereby he can check his consumption at any time. To compel the monthly rendering of accounts would involve the extra cost of monthly as opposed to quarterly readings and rendering and collection of accounts, which cost would fall on the consumer, and would involve consumers in paying monthly instead of quarterly. I doubt whether this would be in the interest of consumers or would command their approval. Moreover, under the Gas Regulation Act, 1920, the local authorities test the calorific value, purity and pressure of gas supplied; and these tests have been regularly carried out in the London area. These tests showed that during the March quarter all the London gas companies fulfilled their statutory obligations. In view of the facts which I have stated, and the powers given to local authorities by legislation, I do not think that a special inquiry would serve any useful purpose.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHas the Board of Trade satisfied itself in regard to this matter, or has it been left entirely to the local authorities who are dealing with their own particular sections?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, Sir. I have satisfied myself that the local authorities in London which are particularly referred to have most thoroughly dealt with this matter; in fact, the London County Council has made all the regular inspections which the Act requires it to make. I do not think it would be right or desirable that I should take out of the hands of the local authorities the duties which Parliament so recently conferred upon them.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask two questions? First, whether the right hon. Gentleman is himself a victim; and, secondly, whether under the Act it is permissible for the local authorities to inspect, not merely the quality of the gas but also the pressure? Many of us believe that our heavy gas bills are due to the companies increasing the pressure so that people accustomed to the old pressure do not know that more gas is being consumed by them.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am one of the victims of having to pay more. With regard to the second question put by the right hon. and gallant Member, under the Act of 1920 the local authorities have to examine the calorific quality, purity and pressure of the gas supply. That question was raised previously. I have made a special inquiry with regard to London, and I find that the test has been regularly carried out.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHas there been any rise in the pressure?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo. I understand the right hon. and gallant Member asks have we got more or less gas, but under the Act which was passed in 1920 you do not pay for the amount of stuff that comes through the pipe, but only the calorific value, just as to take a metaphor, you pay for the whisky and not for the water.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that where a consumer asks the London County Council 1434 inspector to test the meter and it turns out to be correct, the consumer is charged 10s.?
§ Colonel APPLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the pressure of gas going through the gas meter depends upon the purity of the gas in the heating apparatus, and when gas is mixed with air you require much less gas than without air? Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that the gas companies have been passing through pure gas unmixed with air?
§ Commander BELLAIRSCan I have an answer to my question? [An HON. MEMBER: "Give him back his 10s.]