§ 29. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a general direction to the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board not to defer connecting applicants for electricity for the sole reason that the necessary cables would have to be laid underground.
§ Mr. MaclayNo, Sir. Such matters have to be considered in relation to what is practicable in each particular case and that is a matter for the Board.
§ Sir D. RobertsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that a number of people in Wick and elsewhere in my constituency have been denied electricity for years simply because cables have to be laid underground for radio stations or lifesaving apparatus? Is not this quite wrong? Will not my right hon. Friend intervene to give the people the light and power to which they are entitled?
§ Mr. MaclayI understand that each individual case is capable of having a different decision according to the ground conditions and many other things, and I do not see how that can be taken away from the responsibilities of the Board.