§ 78. Rear-Admiral SUETERasked the Minister of Transport whether in view of the information contained in the eighth annual Report of the Electricity Commissioners recently issued, any steps can be taken to speed up the supply of cheap current to rural areas if he will state when he anticipates electricity will be available to rural areas within a 50-mile radius of London; and whether he has a representative of his Department who 1311 has the sole duty of pressing forward the development of electricity for rural areas?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe general question to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers has engaged my special attention, and, so far as my Department and the Electricity Commissioners are concerned, all, possible steps will continue to be taken to expedite the supply of electricity to rural areas. Much expansion has occurred in the last two or three years. As regards the London area, the whole of it, with the exception of a few parishes in the South, is either already covered by statutory powers for the supply of electricity or by applications which are now before the Commissioners for such powers. I should expect that electricity will be available throughout this district within the next three or four years. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Lord APSLEYWhat price per unit is being permitted?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI cannot possibly answer that question without notice.