HC Deb 27 July 1943 vol 391 c1505

Lords Amendment: In page 15, line 20, at the end, insert: Provided that the Electricity Commissioners shall not refuse their consent to the establishment or extension of any such station if they are satisfied that such establishment or extension would not prejudice the exercise or performance by the Board of their powers or duties regarding the development of further means of generation of electricity by water power.

Mr. Johnston

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

I think this Amendment will commend itself to Members in all parts of the House. Clause 22 provides that there should be control of private generating stations, that no person shall be allowed to operate by water power a private generating station having a plant exceeding 50 kilowatt power. That was the Clause as it left this House, and what is added here are the words of the Amendment. It may be held that these words are implicit in the Clause as it stood, but it is desirable that they should be made more emphatic. That is to say, the Commissioners shall not refuse their consent unless they are satisfied that the new scheme will interfere with another hydro-electric scheme, say, further down a valley. We do not want wantonly or foolishly to interfere with generation by private individuals who may wish to put up a station. We think the Bill is already clear but we have no objection to accepting these words.

Question put, and agreed to.