HC Deb 28 November 1963 vol 685 cc447-8
11. Sir H. Harrison

asked the Minister of Power whether he is satisfied that there will be an adequate supply of electricity during the coming winter to meet the demands of consumers who are encouraged to buy appliances in the showrooms of the electricity boards; and if he will make a statement.

16 and 17. Mr. K. Lewis

asked the Minister of Power (1) what consultations he has had with the National Coal Board concerning the winter supply of coal; and what steps have been taken to try to ensure continuity of supply for the householder during the next few months;

(2) what steps he proposes to take to avoid power cuts in electricity supply during the coming winter months; and what view he has formed of the prospects of doing this.

Mr. Erroll

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave on 21st November to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis).

Sir H. Harrison

That is all very well, but I would have liked my right hon. Friend to go rather further than he did in that statement. I had hoped that he would have had more news. Many people are worried about the sale of appliances being pushed in the showrooms while electricity supplies are not sufficient, although individual boards, my own in particular, are doing a good job.

Mr. Erroll

I looked carefully at the Answer which I gave a week ago to see if I could add anything useful to it. If I had been able to do so, I would have given a fuller Answer, but there is nothing I can add. I have had talks with the chairmen of the nationalised industries and, if there is a normal winter, we should get through without any serious inconvenience.

Mr. K. Lewis

Is my right hon. Friend aware that we got much more information on these matters from a Press conference last week and that I had thought that he might have had something to add to that since the Coal Board, the Electricity and Gas Councils met at the conference and had quite a bit to say about the prospects for the winter? As I understand it, private industry producing electrical appliances has agreed to minimise its advertising during the winter months. Will my right hon. Friend assure us that the electricity supply organisation will cooperate to ensure that there is not a flooding of the market with appliances at the worst time?

Mr. Erroll

I was careful not to have the Press conference until after the Question had been answered in the House of Commons. The Press conference was to give supplementary information. It was explained that electricity boards would not advertise direct-acting space heaters. If, however, they were specifically asked to sell one, it would be only right and proper to do so. However, during the winter there will not be any special displays of direct-acting space: heaters in electricity showrooms.