HC Deb 11 July 1957 vol 573 cc563-5

Lords Amendment: In page 10, line 26, leave out "this Act" and insert "the Electricity Act, 1957,".

Mr. Renton

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

This is another consequential drafting Amendment which arises because Section 49 of the 1947 Act, dealing with the supply of electricity to the railways, has now been replaced by Clause 27 of the Bill. The Clause and the relevant portions of Section 37 of the Electricity Act dealing with retail tariffs have to be dovetailed with the special provisions relating to the fixing of charges for the supply of electricity to the railways. That is done by this simple Amendment.

Sir F. Soskice

This Amendment, I understand, is purely consequential on the change which is already in the Bill to Clause 27, and we accept the change.

Question put and agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In line 27, leave out "Area Boards" and insert "an Area Board."

4.15 p.m.

Mr. Renton

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

This Amendment, and the next one in line 30, go together, and with your permission, Mr. Speaker, I suggest that they be considered together.

Both Amendments are consequential on one which was moved in another place by an Opposition peer and accepted, to the effect that the area boards, when fixing retail tariffs, as they have a responsibility to do, shall consult not only the Electricity Council but also the consultative council for each area. It is already the existing and well-established practice in each of the areas that this should be done, and if these two Amendments are accepted the existing practice will have been given statutory effect. I hope that this is a proposition which commends itself to both sides of the House.

Mr. Palmer

There is a point which arises here. As I understood the 1947 Act, the area boards were obliged to consult the consultative bodies on tariffs and rates. Is it now suggested that if this Amendment is accepted they will have to do it prior to making the change? I think that that is probably the issue, because under the 1947 Act they were obliged to consult.

Mr. Renton

With the leave of the House, I will reply to the hon. Gentleman. As I understand, under the 1947 Act the area boards were obliged to consult the consultative councils as to their general plans and arrangements, and there was no statutory obligation to consult them before fixing the retail tariff. In practice they did consult them, but there was no obligation to do so. If these two Amendments are accepted there will be an obligation to consult the consultative councils not only as to general plans and arrangements but, as the hon. Gentleman has put it, before fixing retail tariffs.

Question put and agreed to.

Further Lords Amendment made: In line 30, after "with" insert: the Consultative Council established for their area and with".—[Mr. Renton.]