HC Deb 24 February 1930 vol 235 cc2013-6

Resolved, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under the Gas Undertakings Acts, 1920 and 1929, on the application of the Halstead Gas Company, Limited, which was presented on the 30th day of January and published, be approved."—[Mr. W. B. Smith.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under the Gas Undertakings Acts, 1920 and 1929, on the application of the urban district council of Rawmarsh, which was presented on the 27th day of January and published, be approved."—[Mr. W. R. Smith.]

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

I should like to know, in regard to this Urban District Council of Rawmarsh, how much they are developing in this case and what is the capital sum which they are expending, because it is one of the questions which it is advisable for the House to keep an eye on?

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Living close to the urban district referred to in this Order, I can at least tell the hon. Member opposite that the development in question is strictly in accordance with the known requirements of the district. The very fact that the Order is on the Paper at all is proof that it has given entire satisfaction to every authority concerned, and? suggest that if the hon. Member puts anything in the way of the application of this Order, in a very strong mining area—

Mr. A. M. SAMUEL

On a point of Order. We do not wish any discourtesy to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, but after all we are entitled to the courtesy of his being here, and I should move the adjournment of the House if he were not going to attend.

Mr. SPEAKER

I think the hon. Member is in the House.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

I recollect a period when the hon. Gentleman opposite would have been very happy to be permitted to leave his place on this Front Bench when he found it difficult to reply to submissions made from the benches opposite. More frequently than not the ex-Financial Secretary to the Treasury found himself in a very awkward position when any questions of substance were put to him. It is a piece of political sharp practice. [Interruption.]

Mr. SPEAKER

I do not think that that has anything to do with this particular Order.

Mr. WILLIAMS

If the hon. Gentleman or any of his colleagues attempted to prevent this Order going through, they would deprive men of work which is very necessary. I hope that, from that point of view, they will not hesitate to allow the Order to pass through.

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. W. R. Smith)

In reply to the question put by the hon. Member for Torquay (Mr. C. Williams), this Order is being made in order to permit of a maximum price being chargeable in this area owing to an alteration made to one of the Clauses in the Act. In the Act of 1929, power is given to permit of a change over of a system. Some of the companies did not do this until rather late in the day, and therefore these Orders are necessary to enable them to fix a higher maximum charge for the gas which they have to dispose of in order to enable them to carry on. This Order is not opposed by anybody in the district, and there is complete unanimity behind it.

Sir BASIL PETO

Has it anything to do with the employment of labour?

Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGE

The hon. Gentleman the Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) stressed the point that, if we oppose this Order, or even ask questions about it, it would have some effect on increasing unemployment in his area. As we understand it, the whole effect of the Order is to enable the gas undertakings to increase the price of gas to the consumer. We fail to understand how that is going to affect unemployment except to increase it. Perhaps there is some plot behind it to connect this with the Coal Bill. If the Coal Bill will put up the price to the consumer this is perhaps a Measure which the Government is trying to rush through when no one is looking in order to get the same end.

Resolved, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under the Gas Undertakings Acts, 1920 and 1929, on the application of the urban district council of Rawmarsh, which was presented on the 27th day of January and published, be approved.

Resolved, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under the Gas Undertakings Acts, 1920 and 1929, on the application of the urban district council of Padiham, which was presented on the 30th day of January and published, be approved."—[Mr. W. R. Smith.]

The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.

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