HC Deb 12 February 1951 vol 484 cc17-8
21. Sir Wavell Wakefield

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is now in a position to make a statement on what further action he has taken to give warning to electricity consumers and specially manufacturers, of electricity cuts and in particular say what assistance he has arranged with the British Broadcasting Corporation for them to give in this connection.

30. Mr. Redmayne

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on the general principle of national warnings of power cuts discussed by him with the British Electricity Authority.

33. Mr. Geoffrey Hirst

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether plans are now complete for a radio warning of impending electricity cuts; what is the nature of such plans; and when he expects the scheme will be put into operation.

36. Mr. Digby

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now in a position to make a statement about improving the present system for giving warning of power cuts.

Mr. Robens

My right hon. Friend is actively pursuing his discussions with the British Electricity Authority and the area boards about the methods by which more adequate warnings might be given of power cuts. In the meantime, the rota system is being perfected and more generally applied; the system of telephone warnings to hospitals, factories and other large users is being extended and experiments are being made with special short-wave radio transmitting and receiving sets. I am afraid, however, that there are still formidable difficulties to be overcome.

Sir W. Wakefield

In view of the great interference with production, especially continuous processes, when electricity cuts take place, cannot the Minister expedite action and look into other ways of warning manufacturers in collaboration with the B.B.C.?

Mr. Robens

I think the hon. Gentleman will find that in the continuous process industries, in hospitals and emergency cases of that kind, arrangements have already been made, but we are pressing on as fast as we can with other methods for application to industry as a whole.