§ 9. Mr. Odeyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether arrangements can now be made to supply the village of Hotham in East Yorkshire with electricity.
§ Mr. GaitskellUnder the Electricity Act, 1947, the responsibility for a supply of electricity to the village of Hotham falls on the Yorkshire Electricity Board, to whom inquiries on this subject should be addressed.
§ Mr. OdeyWill the Minister bear in mind that there are many rural districts which have been seeking to obtain electricity supplies for a number of years. Now that the Minister has an opportunity of showing what he can do in this way, will he take speedy action?
§ Mr. GaitskellI am well aware of the need for rural electrification but, in any particular instance, perhaps the hon. Member would approach the Electricity Board concerned.
§ Lieut.-Commander Gurney BraithwaiteWould the right hon. Gentleman use his good offices by consulting his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, who can tell him that in this and many other cases in the East Riding of Yorkshire this is a matter of the greatest urgency, which should be considered at the Ministerial level?
§ Mr. GaitskellIt is certainly most desirable that we should catch up on the arrears of the past. There is no need for consultation. I am well aware of the views of my right hon. Friend.
§ Colonel ClarkeDoes the Minister recollect that before nationalisation an arrangement had been made between the National Farmers' Union and the electricity companies whereby rural electricity supplies could be clearly accelerated?
§ Mr. GaitskellI know of no such arrangement.
§ Mr. SpeakerThis Question deals only with the supply of electricity for the village of Hotham.