§ 8. Mr. Oldfieldasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether any progress is being made with the report of the Association of Municipal Corporations, sent to him some time ago, on the question of the furtherance of public ownership in fuel and power.
Major Lloyd GeorgeI presume my hon. Friend is referring to the report of the Association of Municipal Corporations on the electricity supply industry. This document, together with other proposals for the reconstruction of the electricity supply industry, is being considered by the Government, but I am unable to say 8 when I shall be in a position to make a statement on the Government's policy on this subject.
§ 10. Mr. Wootton-Daviesasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that factories which can produce electricity at a low cost are discouraged from so doing by the high stand-by charges of electricity undertakings; and what steps he is taking to encourage production of electricity by factories.
Major Lloyd GeorgeI have no information which indicates that, in general, electricity undertakings are quoting unreasonable terms for standby supplies of electricity. If, however, my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any case he has in mind I shall ask the Electricity Commissioners to inquire into it. As regards the second part of the Question, as my hon. Friend is aware, the installation of a private generating plant in a factory is a complicated technical question which has to be settled on the merits of each case. During the war, the shortage of electrical plant would in any case have precluded large scale additional generation by factories. The whole subject is at present being studied by my Ministry.
§ 14. Mr. Higgsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, if he is aware of the high charges many farmers are having to pay in order to obtain a supply of electricity; and what action he intends to take in order that these charges can be reduced to a reasonable level.
Major Lloyd GeorgeI would refer to the reply which I gave on the 7th March last to the hon. and gallant Member for Newbury (Brigadier-General Clifton Brown), a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. HiggsIs the Minister aware that there are 300,000 farmers in this country, and that 10 per cent. only have a supply of electricity; and does he not consider that this is a matter of desperate urgency?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI quite agree with my hon. Friend. I think it is one of the most important things to be done in this country, but my hon. Friend will agree that the present generating plant makes it a little difficult to carry out his suggestion.
§ 16. Mr. Higgsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, what provision he is making to arrange to supply the necessary materials to cover the 3,000,000 kw. of new electricial plant that is to be installed before the winter of 1948.
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe provision of the necessary labour and materials for carrying out the programme of generating plant promoted by the Central Electricity Board is receiving my active consideration. I cannot say when I shall be in a position to make a statement on this subject.
§ Mr. HiggsIs the Minister aware that the supply of electricity at the present moment is inadequate and that the position will be more difficult in 1947, and is he further aware that one third of the plant authorised now has not received the Government's sanction?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI fully appreciate the difficulty in which the electricity supply industry is working. I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that, in present circumstances, and until the war comes to an end, there is likely to be a certain shortage of raw materials and labour. We are, however, investigating at this moment the capacity and condition of all plants, and will do our best to get the utmost cooperation in the country.
§ 19. Mr. Chorltonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether during the period of unusually high electricity demand, the oil-engined generating plants kept for service in case of a breakdown were actively employed to assist the main stations, and, if not, why not, as they must have had stores of oil fuel in reserve.
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe principal purpose of the oil engine plants referred to by my hon. Friend is to provide a standby supply in case of breakdown of the public supply of electricity. I am advised that in some cases they can only meet partially the requirements of the consumer and there are serious technical difficulties in working these plants in conjunction with the public supply system. In view, however, of the unprecedented demand this winter, I have ordered a thorough investigation into the possibility of using these plants on future occasions when it may become necessary to shed load.