§ 4. Mr. Doigasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pay an official visit to Edinburgh.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Mr. Gregor MacKenzie)My right hon. Friend is always happy to visit Edinburgh, as he does frequently, and he will be there again on Friday.
§ Mr. DoigWill my right hon. Friend visit the hydro-electric board offices and look at its accounts, since it has substantially increased its charges in each of the last three years? Is the Minister aware that many of my constituents are having great difficulty in paying these high accounts, and in some cases have had to cut off their heating systems?
§ Mr. MacKenzieWhen next my right hon. Friend goes to Edinburgh, it is highly improbable that he will be able to visit the hydro-electric board's offices, for the good and simple reason that, subject to certain safeguards, he has no power to intervene in what is primarily a matter for the commercial judgment of the board.
The increased charges are in line with increases generally over the years. The charges now being made by both boards in Scotland are among the lowest in the United Kingdom.