§ 72. Mr. PARKERasked the Minister of Transport whether the Electricity Commissioners have the necessary data from which to make reliable estimates of the cost of standardisation, in view of the importance of achieving standardisation of domestic consumers' voltage and system of supply, and the present inconvenience to the public due to the numerous voltages of both alternating and direct current; and, if not, will he request the Electricity Commissioners to acquire this data?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of TRANSPORT (Captain Austin Hudson)This question was considered by the recent Committee on Electricity Distribution and pending the decision of the Government on the report of that Committee, my right hon. Friend does not feel justified in calling upon the Electricity Commissioners to incur the heavy expense of compiling further data.
§ Mr. PARKERWhen are the Government likely to come to a decision?
§ Captain HUDSONPerhaps the hon. Member will put a question down.
Captain CAZALETHave the Government yet considered the recommendations of the McGowan Report; and can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say how soon he will be in a position to make a statement on this subject?
§ Captain HUDSONThe Government are considering the report now.
§ Mr. G. HARDIEIs it not a fact that when the 1926 Act was passed the nation was led to believe that that Measure would solve all these problems not only of standardisation but also of price, and bring about a reduction; and what has happened to that Measure since; and can the hon. and gallant Gentleman explain the ramp which has been taking place?
§ Captain HUDSONThe 1926 Act dealt with the generation of electricity. This report deals with distribution.
§ Mr. HARDIEBut is it not the case that the 1926 Act was intended to control distribution and that the Tory Government let that part of it go?