§ 25. Mr. LEONARDasked the Minister of Transport whether the Electricity Board in its selection of stations for the supply of electricity exercises any prefer- 953 ence for British companies; and whether he can state to what extent companies being selected stations are financed by foreign capital?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Oliver Stanley)All the selected stations under schemes adopted by the Central Electricity Board are owned either by public authorities or by British companies. I am unable to state to what extent the share capital of such companies is held by persons who are not domiciled in Great Britain or who are of foreign nationality.
§ 28. Mr. GEORGE HALLasked the Minister of Transport the number of miles of main transmission lines now in operation and the output of electricity in Great Britain in each year since the Electricity (Supply) Act was passed?
§ Mr. STANLEYAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The transmission system of the Central Electricity Board, to which the hon. Member presumably refers, consists of about 4,000 miles of transmission lines of which about 3,000 miles operate at 132,000 volts and the remainder at 66,000 and lower voltages. The greater proportion of the lines are now in actual operation, and I am informed that the whole will be brought into operation during the course of the current year.
§ The output (units generated) of electricity in Great Britain by authorised undertakers in the years following the passing of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1926, was as follows:
| Units generated. Millions. | |
| 1927 | 8,234 |
| 1928 | 9,073 |
| 1929 | 10,294 |
| 1930 | 10,914 |
| 1931 | 11,413 |
| 1932 | 12,241 |
| 1933 | 13,554 |
§ 30. Mr. MAXTONasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the North of Scotland Power and Light Company, Limited, supplying electricity for the county of Angus, charges rates both for light and power that are much in excess of those charged in other areas; 954 and whether he will take steps to bring these charges to a reasonable level?
§ Mr. STANLEYI am not aware that the charges made by this company, who are authorised to supply in Brechin and Montrose, are much in excess of those made by companies operating in other areas in Scotland comparable in size and population. In any case, I have no power to determine the prices which may be actually charged by electricity undertakers for the various classes of supply but only to revise the maximum charges on applications made in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity (Supply) Acts.
§ Mr. MAXTONHas the time not come for some attempt to standardise on a decent basis these electricity charges throughout the country, and has the Minister not power to use pressure in that direction?
§ Mr. STANLEYThe first part of the hon. Member's supplementary question raises a wider issue than the question on the Paper. With regard to the second part, I have already answered that I have no power except the power to fix maximum prices if the procedure laid down in the Electricity (Supply) Acts has been complied with.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the Minister consider whether the present maximum prices are not too high?
§ Mr. STANLEYCertainly, if the procedure under the Electricity (Supply) Acts is complied with and application comes to me.