§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.
LORD HAMILTON OF DALZELLMy Lords, in moving the Third Reading of 864 this Bill I think I ought to allude to a circumstance which arose on the last stage. Your Lordships will recollect that the Lord Chairman proved an Amendment to Clause 5, and that the noble Marquess opposite—Lord Salisbury—in saying that he thought Lord Onslow's Amendment might be withdrawn, asked for an undertaking from me that the Board of Trade would pursue a certain course. As I said at the time, the matter had not arisen before I came to the House, and not having plenipotentiary powers I was unable to deal with it. But since then I have consulted my right hon. friend, and I am authorised to say, on behalf of the Board of Trade, that in the case of any applications being made to them under subsection (1) of Clause 5 they will carefully consider all the circumstances of the case before giving their consent, and in particular will endeavour to prevent any extravagant speculation on the part of local authorities which might injuriously affect the interests of ratepayers or consumers of electricity within their district. I hope that will meet the point raised by the noble Marquess.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a—(Lord Hamilton of Dalzell.)
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF ONSLOW)My Lords, as far as local authorities are concerned the statement which the noble Lord has just made is perfectly satisfactory; but I would like to point out that the clause authorises any undertaker, whether local company or private company. Now a private company might obtain powers to supply a village with electricity while all the time it might have the intention at the back of its mind, or it might even possess a contract in its pocket, to supply a great railway company with electricity for the whole course of the line. It is in regard to that sort of thing that we require the Board of Trade to exercise vigilance. It is just as necessary to keep a vigilant eye upon private undertakers as it is upon local authorities, and I hope the noble Lord will convey this fact to the officials of the Board of Trade. So far as my Department are concerned, we are anxious to see that private companies or even individuals do not get extensive powers granted to them by the Board of Trade for purposes which, perhaps, would not be-sanctioned if the extent to which they 865 intended to make use of the powers were known.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I desire to express, on my own behalf, thanks to the noble Lord for the courteous way in which he has followed the suggestion I ventured to make on the last stage of the Bill. I am bound to say that I was more interested in the question of restraining undue zeal on the part of a local authority than of a private company, but no doubt what my noble friend who has just sat down has said is true, that it is advisable that the Board of Trade should exercise vigilance in the case of a private undertaker just as in the case of a public undertaker. I think I speak on behalf of many noble Lords who sit on this side of the House when I say that we were specially interested on the last occasion in preventing undue speculation on the part of local authorities by which the ratepayers' credit and the ratepayers' money might be prejudiced; and we desired, therefore, to have a formal assurance on the part of the President of the Board of Trade that the Board would exercise great vigilance in the matter. I am much obliged to the noble Lord for the statement he has made.
§ On Question, Bill read 3a.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEESMy Lords, I am sure your Lordships will hear with regret that the noble Lord in whose name an Amendment stands on the Paper and who has taken great interest in this Bill (Lord Avebury), is prevented from being present this evening owing to sudden family bereavement. I am not, of course, responsible for the Amendment which the noble Lord has drafted, but inasmuch as it was framed to meet some objections which I took to the undefined nature of the word "contractor," and, I think, to a great extent does so, I have pleasure, in the absence of the noble Lord, in moving his Amendment, and I hope His Majesty's Government will agree to it.
Amendment moved—
In Clause 24, page 13, line 18, after the word 'places,' to insert the words 'The expression 866 "contractor" shall mean any person company or firm habitually engaged in the carrying out of contracts pertaining to the supplying fixing repairing and removing of wires and appliances to be used for the consumption of electrical energy.'"—(The Earl of Onslow.)
LORD HAMILTON OF DALZELLMy Lords, I should like to join with the noble Earl in expressing regret at the cause which prevents the noble Lord in whose name this Amendment stands from being in his place to-day. I have only to say that the Board of Trade accept this Amendment.
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.