HC Deb 25 July 1949 vol 467 cc1812-3
55. Mr. Raikes

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many of the Gas Consultative Committees have been established; and which have met.

Mr. Gaitskell

Councils for the North-Western, Northern, Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands, and South-Western areas have already been appointed and will meet when the holiday season is over. Invitations have been sent out for the remaining six councils and I hope to appoint them within a week or two.

59. Mr. Gerald Williams

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if it is his intention to receive nominations from ratepayers' associations for appointment to consultative committees in connection with nationalised services.

Mr. Gaitskell

No, Sir. The Electricity Act, 1947, and the Gas Act, 1948, make provision for adequate local authority representation and I do not consider it necessary to appoint representatives of ratepayers' associations as well.

Mr. Williams

Will the Minister be prepared to receive representations on behalf of ratepayers' associations?

Mr. Gaitskell

No, Sir. If the hon. Member will study these Acts, he will see that between one-half and three-fifths in one case and one-half and three-quarters in the other of the members of the consultative councils have to be representatives nominated by local authority representative associations.

Mr. Beswick

Would my right hon. Friend make a statement about the method he employs in connection with the appointment of these committees and from which bodies he receives nominations?

Mr. Gaitskell

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put that question down.