§ 10. Mr. HANNONasked the Minister of Transport whether he can make a state- 889 ment as to the activities upon which the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority has been engaged since its inception; the expenditure involved in the maintenance of this body during the 12 months ended 30th June last; and if he is satisfied that the continuance of the authority is necessary in view of the operations carried on by the Electricity Commissioners and the Central Electricity Board?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Herbert Morrison)The Annual Reports made by the Joint Authority and printed as appendices to the Annual Reports of the Electricity Commissioners, contain a full record of the activities of the Authority. The administrative expenses of the Joint Authority (i.e. other than expenses in connection with the supply of electricity) for the year ending 31st March, 1930, amounted to about £17,500. With regard to the last part of the question, while the Act of 1926 has undoubtedly resulted in an alteration in the scope and amount of the work of the Authority, useful duties remain to be discharged by the Authority in connection with distribution. The Authority will in 1971 become the owner of all the Company undertakings in London.
§ Mr. HANNONIn view of the amount of money expended by this authority, and the comparatively small amount of work done, does the Minister feel justified in continuing its operations?
§ Mr. MORRISONIn any case the authority is established by law, and is performing useful functions, and I do not see how its position can be altered in the absence of general legislation at any time covering electricity supply.
§ Mr. HANNONBut if there is a useless institution, is not this the time to dispense with it?
§ Mr. MORRISONIn so far as its functions are limited they were possibly limited as a consequence of the Act of 1926, and more particularly they have been limited by the action of past Governments in their desire to protect the interests of private companies.