§ 25. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Minister of Power whether he is aware that over 5,000 farms in Devonshire are without a main electricity supply; and if he will authorise the regional electricity boards in south-west England and elsewhere to undertake forthwith further work to provide power to farms and rural villages.
§ Mr. WoodYes, Sir: but since 1948 the proportion of farms connected in the south-west has increased from about a fifth to two-thirds and in Devon from 15 per cent. to over 55 per cent. Supplies to rural areas are already costing the South-Western Electricity Board about £200,000 a year on revenue account. The possibility of increasing the present high rate of area boards' capital expenditure on rural electrification is governed by their revenue position rather than their capital allocations.
§ Mr. FletcherMay we take it from that Answer that the Minister will place no obstacle in the way of the South-Western Electricity Board in carrying out, as rapidly as possible, these plans for rural electrification?
§ Mr. WoodI can assure the hon. Member that he and I and the South-Western Board are entirely together in wanting to get on with this as quickly as we can, but obviously the pace of the advance depends on the use which is made of equipment which is already installed.