§ 7. Mr. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Report of the Herbert Committee upon the electricity supply industry in England and Wales states that the area boards 197 are languid in their approach to the most efficient use of capital and manpower, and in other directions; and, in view of this indictment and the fact that similar defects and disabilities apply to the electricity supply industry in Scotland, what steps he is taking to ensure that the South of Scotland Electricity Board and the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board waste no further resources of capital and manpower.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartThe Report referred to does not relate to Scotland and, in any case, I do not accept as facts the sweeping statements in the latter part of the Question.
§ Mr. NabarroDoes not the reply of my hon. Friend mean he is satisfied that the Scottish electricity boards are perfect in every respect? Why does he imagine that the Scots in their administration do not suffer from such disabilities as the English unfortunately possess?
§ Mr. StewartI think it monstrous to suggest that because there are said to be certain defects in England they should also apply in Scotland.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. NabarroA thoroughly unsatisfactory answer.
§ 16. Mr. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will appoint a committee to inquire into the organisation and efficiency of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board, the terms of reference of such a committee to be generally similar to those given to the Herbert Committee on the Electricity Supply industry in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartNo, Sir.
§ Mr. NabarroWhy not?
§ Mr. StewartWell, I will answer my hon. Friend. The reorganisation of the electricity supply industry in Scotland took effect only on 1st April, 1955, and my right hon. Friend does not think that it would be reasonable to hold an inquiry so soon.
§ Mr. NabarroCannot my hon. Friend give some advice about the form of public or Parliamentary accountability which can now be extended to these two Scottish electricity boards? Is he aware that in the 12 years since the North of Scotland Board was established there has not been a debate in this House on its Report and Accounts and that no sort of inquiry has been made by previous Governments or by the present Government into the widespread allegations of extravagance and inefficiency?
§ Mr. StewartQuestions on the Parliamentary programme are not for me to answer. As to an outside inquiry, it may well be that at some future time we shall do what has been done in England, but that moment has not arrived.
§ Mr. WoodburnAre not the allegations of the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) extremely unfortunate in that they are based on no information or solid facts at all? Is the Secretary of State for Scotland not directly responsible for these bodies, and has he not supervision over their activities? Is it not therefore an attack upon his right hon. Friend to suggest that there is gross inefficiency in those bodies?
§ Sir J. HutchisonWould not the Joint Under-Secretary agree that the divergent views which have already been expressed—I cannot accept the innuendoes of my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro)—exist because we have had no debate? Will he please put to his right hon. Friend the desirability of having a debate in the near future on the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board?
§ Mr. StewartYes, Sir.