§ 22. Mr. Loftusasked the Minister of Transport whether, with a view to encouraging the rebuilding in small country towns of factories destroyed by enemy action in large cities, he will consider the reorganisation of the electric supply industry on a national basis, so that the charge for electric power will be uniform throughout the whole country?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonIt would not be practicable to undertake a reorganisation of such magnitude during the war.
§ Mr. LoftusDoes not my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that decentralisation of industry will be impossible so long as certain towns are charged eight and ten times as much for electricity as other towns?
§ Mr. James GriffithsIs the increased charge for electricity due to the price of coal?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonThe increased charges can only be partly attri- 1346 buted to the increases in the price of coal. There are other factors, such as repairs, which come into it.
§ Mr. ThorneIs the Minister aware that the price of electricity from local authorities is very much below that of other suppliers?