§ 21. Mr. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the installed capacity of electric power and/or output of electricity will be affected during the period 1956 to 1960 by the reduction in the capital investment programme 1956–57 of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board; and how far such reduction is to be met by greater efficiency on the part of the Board.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartThe effect of the reduction in the capital investment programme for 1956 will be to postpone the commissioning at various dates between 1956 and 1959 of plant with a total installed capacity of 11,000 kilowatts and an average annual output of 50 million units.
§ Mr. NabarroDoes not that reply illustrate the tremendous extravagance of this board? Does my hon. Friend realise that the tiny amount of electricity referred to accounts for an economy of several 204 million pounds a year? On such grounds, why will he not accede to my request that there should be a full-scale independent inquiry into this squandermania in the Far North?
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the Joint Under-Secretary aware that the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) talked for about forty-five minutes on the Scottish Standing Committee to try to explain his point and that he has not explained it yet?