§ 44. Mr. Ridleyasked the Minister of Transport whether the Government intend to introduce a Bill to implement the memorandum on electricity distribution?
§ Mr. BurginYes, Sir. The Government have already announced their intention to introduce legislation dealing with the reorganisation of distribution of electricity supply.
§ Mr. RidleyAre we to understand the reply to mean that it is still the intention of the Government to embody the terms of the memorandum in a Parliamentary Bill?
§ Mr. BurginIt is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to deal with the reorganisation of distribution of electricity supply. The memorandum to which the hon. Member refers was a communication made to facilitate the negotiations.
§ Captain Sir William BrassAre we to understand that the reports in the newspapers that this has been dropped are entirely untrue?
§ Mr. BurginThe reports in the newspapers, the origin of which is unknown to me, are entirely without foundation, and, as far as I know, the exact contrary of what the Minister proposes.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonCan the Minister say when this legislation is likely to be introduced?
§ Mr. BurginThat is a question which should be addressed to the Prime Minister. It is hoped that there will be no undue delay.
§ 54. Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Transport what has been the general character of the replies so far received from the various organisations to which "Electricity Distribution—Outline of Proposals," has been issued?
§ Mr. BurginThe object of circulating proposals was to facilitate discussion with representative associations. I do not think it would be helpful to disclose the nature or character of individual replies which have been sent to me in response to this invitation.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonFrom the replies and expressions received already, is it not clear that the Government's proposals are having a somewhat unpopular reception?
§ Mr. BurginNo, Sir. I think it is much too early to make any such statement.
§ 61. Sir Arnold Gridleyasked the Minister of Transport the number of units sold by the public electricity supply undertakings in the years 1930 and 1933, and for the last year for which corresponding figures are available; and how these are divided between municipalities and companies, respectively?
§ Mr. BurginI will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the detailed information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the information:
| — | Units Sold (millions). | ||
| 1930. | 1933. | 1936. | |
| Public Authorities. | 4,475.7 | 7,030.1 | 10,673.9 |
| Companies | 3,454.1 | 4,076.3 | 6,129.6 |
§ 62. Sir A. Gridleyasked the Minister of Transport the average price per electricity unit sold for power or industrial purposes, as distinct from domestic purposes, by municipalities and companies, respectively, for the last completed account year; and the number of such units sold by municipalities and companies, respectively, for the same year?
§ Mr. BurginI will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the detailed information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the information:
| — | 1935–36. Units sold for power or industrial purposes. | 1935–36. Average Revenue per Unit. | |
| (millions). | d. | ||
| Public Authorities | … | 4,900.5 | 0.669 |
| Companies | … | 3,349.5 | 0.645 |
§ 63. Sir A. Gridleyasked the Minister of Transport the number of electricity distributing undertakings operated by municipalities and companies, respectively, which have not yet changed over their non-standard systems to the standard alternating current system; and the number of direct current units sold by these undertakings, respectively, for the last completed account year?
§ Mr. BurginI will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the detailed information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the information:
§ In 1935–36 there were 217 public authority undertakings and 108 company undertakings which were giving supplies on the direct current system; and of these, 193 public authority undertakings and 76 company undertakings were also giving supplies on the alternating current system, in the great majority of cases at the standard frequency of 50 cycles per second. Figures for the number of direct current units sold are not readily available, but there were about 1.2 million direct current consumers out of a total of 7.7 million consumers.