§ 31. Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Transport what annual sum the electrical generating industry will be required to pay annually to the Central Electricity Board in respect of interest and amortisation of the loans incurred for the standardisation of electrical frequency; and what addition this would involve on the average in the charge for electrical energy per unit?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of TRANSPORT (Lieut.-Colonel Headlam)The figures as to the estimated annual charges in con- 2576 nection with standardisation of frequency asked for by my hon. Friend are set out in the Annual Report of the Electricity Commissioners for 1931-32. It is estimated that when standardisation throughout the country is completed and all recoverable expenditure refunded, the annual loan charges will be of the order of £900,000, and that they are not likely to represent at any time more than about 0.0155d. per unit sold.
§ 32. Mr. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Transport if he can state for 1932 or for the latest year available the number of units of electricity generated per ton of coal used by electrical undertakings owned by local authorities and companies, respectively?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMIn 1932 the number of units of electricity generated per ton of coal and coke used in the steam power stations of authorised undertakings (which stations account for upwards of 98 per cent. of the total output of such undertakings) was approximately 1,220 in the case of undertakings belonging to public authorities and 1,454 in the case of undertakings belonging to companies.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan my hon. and gallant Friend say why it is that companies are so much more efficient in burning coal than are municipalities?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI could not say that, because I really am not sure that that is right. There are many considerations that have to be taken into account, but this is not the time to go into them.