§ 54. Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the cost of electric power has been increased by 40 per cent. due to increases in cost of coal; that the effect of this is to inflate the cost of nearly every commodity purchased by the Government; and at what date he proposes to carry out his undertaking to subsidise rising costs of coal-power, &c, in order to stabilise prices and wages?
§ Sir K. WoodMy noble Friend the Minister of War Transport is not aware of any general increase to the extent indicated, but he will ask the Electricity Commissioners to look into any particular cases which my hon. Friend has in mind. Among the measures taken in relation to the charges of public utility undertakings, the Commissioners have informed all electricity undertakers that no further increases in electricity charges, other than increases already announced, should be made without the undertakers first submitting their proposals to the Commissioners with necessary supporting data so that the Minister may have an opportunity of considering the position.