§ 1. Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that Crickhowell, Breconshire, has been without gas since last April and, despite the repeated assurances given to the hon. 922 Member for Brecon and Radnor, there is no supply at present; and if he will examine the possibility of taking the plant over immediately.
§ The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Shinwell)I am aware that Crickhowell has been without gas since last April. This has been due to the extreme difficulty in obtaining a replacement of the working manager who left the works last April and to the very dilapidated condition of the plant. By kind assistance from neighbouring gas undertakings that plant has now been put in order. It has, however, been found quite impossible to engage a new manager though a succession of men have been interviewed for the post. My regional officers are in close touch with the situation and are doing their utmost to assist the undertaking to obtain staff.
§ Mr. WatkinsIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's reply and in view of the fact that the matter has been raised on several occasions before, cannot something more definite be said today?
§ Mr. ShinwellIf we could obtain the staff, we should be only too pleased to assist the hon. Gentleman in his constituency, but the trouble is that we cannot get the staff. The managers are very reluctant to undertake responsibility at this very small gasworks and, short of drafting labour for this purpose, there is nothing we can do except to try and persuade people to go there.