§ 19. Mr. Woodburnasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the serious waste caused to industry and householders in this country by manufacturers of electric plugs adopting different gauges which prevent interchange; and whether he is prepared to fix standards for 5 ampere, 10 ampere, 15 ampere, etc., plugs so that all plugs and sockets will be interchangeable?
§ Mr. MontagueAll British manufacturers, except one, are now concentrating on the manufacture of plugs to British standard specifications. The manufacture of non-standard plugs could not be entirely stopped without grave inconvenience, but the amount of material involved is small.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs my hon. Friend aware that all over the country great expense is caused by the fact that people purchase plugs which fit some of the sockets and not others, and that both in industry and in the household this is a disgraceful state of affairs in the present development of the electrical industry?
§ Mr. MontagueI am not aware of that. I have said in my answer that the manufacture of plugs to British standards has been made general except in the case of one firm.