HC Deb 06 December 1933 vol 283 cc1475-6
22. Mr. LEWIS

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what reason no steps have been taken to introduce legislation in accordance with the recommendations made in December, 1932, in an interim report, and confirmed in March, 1933, in a final report, by the departmental committee appointed to advise as to the amendment of existing gas legislation?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

As I informed my hon. Friend on 28th November, this matter is under consideration, and I can assure him that active attention is being devoted to the difficult questions which are involved.

Mr. LEWIS

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that until the law is amended, as suggested, large industrial users of gas have to pay more for their gas than they would otherwise need to pay; does he also appreciate that this is a very serious matter for certain industries, particularly having regard to the recent increased taxation on fuel oil?

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Is the right hon. Gentleman not also aware—having presumably read the last report of the Select Committee on gas undertakings—that unless care is taken, industrial consumers will have, to pay much more for their gas?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Yes, Sir. All these important considerations are borne in mind.

27. Mr. CHORLTON

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in any new Bill to be brought in to remove the limitations which at present restrict the expansion of the gas industry, provision will be made for a widespread linking up of undertakings?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

This matter was examined by the recent Departmental Committee on Gas Legislation. The proposals in the Committee's First Interim Report (Cmd. 4065) relating to the powers of investment of gas undertakers were given effect to by the Gas Undertakings Act, 1932. The proposals in the Committee's Final Report (Cmd. 4288) are now under consideration.