§ 9. Mr. John Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the price per unit of electricity charged by the private companies in the Island of Arran prior to the Hydro-electric Board being vested with responsibility; the percentage decrease which the Board was able to arrange on these figures; the numbers of consumers of electricity when the Board took over; and the number at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartI am informed by the Board that the average price per unit of electricity sold to all consumers in the Island of Arran immediately before the Hydro-Electric Board took over in 1946 was 7.86d. The present average price is 1.80d. per unit, a decrease of 77 per cent. There were 577 consumers when the Board took over and at 30th April, 1952, 1,643.
§ Mr. RankinWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that these remarkable figures are a great tribute to the splendid work of the Hydro-Electric Board and also to the great efficiency of public enterprise as compared with private enterprise in days gone by?
§ Mr. StewartYes, Sir. But, of course, the hon. Member should recall that the former company operated this business at a reasonable profit whereas the Hydro-Electric Board operates the undertakings at a loss, which is set off against profits made elsewhere.
§ Mr. RankinIs it not also the case that while the hon. Gentleman admits that the former company was a private profit making company, the present Board is a non-profit making authority?
§ Mr. StewartYes, Sir, but the hon. Member will no doubt have read today the report of Mr. Johnston's speech yesterday in which he indicated that prices are likely to rise in the near future.