§ 36. Mr. TURTONasked the Minister of Transport the load estimated to be carried on the secondary main transmission line between Malton and Whitby under the scheme submitted for his approval; and how many existing generating stations will be discontinued as a result of this scheme?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONI understand that the current-carrying capacity of the secondary main transmission line is 25,000 kilowatts. There are 15 public generating stations in the area of the North-East England Electricity Scheme, of which six are selected stations. The scheme also contemplates that five of the other public stations will be used for the time being under temporary arrangements between the owners and the Central Electricity Boards.
§ Mr. TURTONDo the 25,000 kilowatts go into the town of Whitby alone; if not, to what towns do they go?
§ Mr. MORRISONI do not think that they will go to any particular town. They will be required for the general use of the region, but for a detailed question of this kind, I should require notice.
§ 39. Mr. LATHAMasked the Minister of Transport whether the £22,800 Whitby-Malton pylon electricity scheme will supply Pickering, Grosmont, Goathland, and Glaisdale; and, if not, from what place is it proposed to supply these townships?
§ Mr. MORRISONThe places referred to in the hon. Member's question are within the area of supply of the Cleveland and Durham County Electric Power Company, and supplies under the North-East England Electricity Scheme will be afforded to the company by the Central Electricity Board at grid points at Malton and Northallerton.
§ Mr. LATHAMWill not all that involve further expenditure and more disputes, and give to this, beautiful country an aspect of an industrial area?
§ Mr. MORRISONThe purpose of all this is greater economy in the generation 448 of electricity supply, and the action is taken under an Act passed by the last Conservative Government.
§ Colonel ASHLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman approach the board so that they will place the pylons in the valleys and not upon the hilltops?
§ Mr. MORRISONCertainly; I am always anxious that these transmission lines shall be placed so that there is the least offence to amenity, and the Central Board are willing to co-operate to that end.
§ Mr. TURTONWill not the right hon. Gentleman give his consent to modify this scheme, which goes over the hilltops, so that it will go down the valley and follow the railway lines?
§ Mr. MORRISONI think that the hon. Gentleman is on the next question.
§ 40. Mr. TURTONasked the Minister of Transport whether the owners and occupiers of land over which the electricity pylons are intended to be placed between Malton and Whitby have given their consent to the erection of such pylons; and whether, in eases where owners and occupiers have refused such consent, he will require the scheme to be so modified and amended as to preserve the amenities and beauty of the moorland area?
§ Mr. MORRISONAs indicated in my reply on Monday last to the hon. Member for Scarborough (Mr. Latham), I have received an application for certain compulsory wayleaves in respect of a portion of the overhead line. The application will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Supply Acts, which provide for a hearing being given to the parties concerned.
§ Mr. TURTONWill the Minister now say whether he will not modify the scheme so that it will go down the valley and not over the hilltop?
§ Mr. MORRISONThe scheme is before me, and, before coming to a decision, I shall consider the representations that have been received. Provisions are laid down in the Act for a formal inquiry, but these have not been taken advantage of by the local authorities.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that certain persons much admire these pylons?
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYThey have a perverted taste.
§ 41. Mr. TURTONasked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the terms of the resolution passed and sent to him by the North Riding County Council on the 3rd June protesting against the proposed erection of pylons across the Yorkshire moors; and whether, in view of the protest by the North Riding County Council, he will, before giving his consent to the scheme of the Central Electricity Board for the erection of a line of pylons between Malton and Whitby, give the North Riding County Council an opportunity of being heard under Section 21 of the Electricity Act, 1919?
§ Mr. MORRISONI have considered the terms of the resolution passed by the North Riding County Council at their meeting on 3rd June last. While the County Council have urged that an alternative route should be used, if possible, for the overhead line, they have not exercised their right of claiming an opportunity to be heard.
§ Mr. TURTONHave they not an opportunity of being heard, as a right, under Section 21 of the 1919 Act?
§ Mr. MORRISONCertainly they have, but the county council have not exercised that right. They sent a general communication, but made it perfectly clear that they did not exercise their rights under the Section to which the hon. Gentleman has referred.
§ Mr. TURTONDoes not the opportunity extend until the Minister gives his consent, and is not the opportunity still open?
§ Mr. MORRISONThe correspondence which has been received makes it perfectly clear that the county council knew what they were doing, and deliberately did not exercise that right.