§ 27. Sir WILFRID SUGDENasked the President of the Board of Trade if the instructions issued by the Government in 1929 as to expenditure on gas undertakings are still in force; whether it is the policy of the Government to encourage expenditure which does not add to the burden of the rates on the part of gas undertakings; and whether he will circularise local authorities as to the advisability of expanding the newer processes of gas undertakings which are becoming available through the results of recent research?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI am unable to identify the instructions regarding expenditure to which my hon. Friend refers, but I do not think it is necessary to remind gas undertakings of the desirability of adopting any new process designed to maintain or increase their efficiency.
§ Sir W. SUGDENMight I ask if the hon. Gentleman will suggest to the local authorities that they should consider this matter, in view of the usefulness of the inventions?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIf my hon. Friend has any suggestions to make, I shall be very happy to consider them.
Sir W. SUDDENMay I bring to the notice of my hon. Friend that all local undertakings and all local authorities are not as progressive as they might be?