§ 35. Mr. LEONARDasked the Minister of Transport how many electricity generating stations, municipal and private, existed in this country at the passing of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1926; and how many have since been closed down under the direction of the Central Electricity Board?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate the information asked for in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the information:
§ The official returns for 1926–27 cover 479 generating station's belonging to authorised undertakers (both municipal and company), of which 13 stations had been closed before the end of that year. Between that time and the beginning of 1934 upwards of 150 of these stations had been shut down, in a number of cases as the result of the owners taking a direct supply from the Central Board—although not necessarily as the result of directions by the board—and in other cases in consequence of the owners taking a bulk supply from another undertaker who is now connected to the grid system of the Central Board. The hon. Member will appreciate that during the intervening period, other generating stations, for example, new selected stations, have been constructed and brought into operation.