HC Deb 28 July 1959 vol 610 cc288-9
7. Sir D. Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to reply to the letter addressed to him by the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland on 2nd March, 1959, relating to the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board; what are the reasons for the delay; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclay

I have now replied to the letter referred to and explained to the hon. Member that I greatly regret that an earlier reply was not included in the letter which I sent to him on similar matters on 11th May last.

Sir D. Robertson

Does this case not refer to the demand against the Benmore Lodge Hotel in my constituency for a capital sum of £5, 200 for the installation of electricity, when the total cost, as I have learned from my right hon. Friend's letter, will be £5,750? Is it not wholly unreasonable to expect a small hotel to have to bear a charge of this kind, and is it not contrary to Government policy in a place where tourism is highly regarded as a priority for the Highlands?

Mr. Maclay

As I have explained on other occasions, the charges made by the Board for electricity are not matters within my direct responsibility. I believe that the hon. Member has another Question later on the Order Paper which bears on this matter.