§ 42. Mr. G. Straussasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of his decision to postpone the proposed Electricity Bill, he will introduce a short measure which will either bring under some form of statutory control the prices charged to consumers by the Fixed Price Electricity Company, or provide for this company to be taken over by a statutory undertaker?
§ Mr. BurginNo, Sir; but I am considering what provisions should be inserted in the Bill to deal with non-statutory undertakings.
§ Mr. StraussIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the charges and the methods of treatment adopted by this company are still causing very serious discontent in many parts of London?
§ Mr. BurginI have had an inquiry made by the Electricity Commissioners and have been in communication with authorised undertakers, and I am in possession of a good deal of information.
§ 43. Mr. Straussasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that certain electricity companies refuse to tell their consumers the basis on which they fix their flat-rate charges; and whether he will include in his forthcoming electricity legislation provision to compel statutory undertakings to inform the public of the basis on which their charges are calculated?
§ Mr. BurginYes, Sir. It is intended to require statutory undertakers to make their scales of charges available to the public.