§ Provisions as to the Acquisition of Generating Stations and Main Transmission Lines.
§ The price of a generating station or main transmission line shall be such sum as may be certified by an auditor appointed by the Electricity Commissioners to have been the amount of the expenses properly incurred on and incidental to the provision of the generating station or main transmission line, less depreciation on a scale fixed by special order:
§ Provided that if the owners of the generating station or main transmission line or the Board are dissatisfied with the sum so certified, the matter in dispute shall, in default of agreement, be determined by the arbitration of a barrister (or in Scotland an advocate) appointed by the Minister of Transport from the appropriate panel set up under section four of this Act, and the arbitrator may, if he thinks it expedient to do so, call in the aid of one or more qualified assessors and hear the case wholly or partially with the assistance of such assessors.
§ LORD ASKWITH moved, immediately before the proviso, to insert "and, in the case of a main transmission line, such additional suns as will compensate the owner for the severance of the line from the owner's undertaking." The noble Lord said: Under Clause 5 a generating station can only be compulsorily acquired when the owners have failed to carry out the directions of the Board in respect to extensions or alterations and after an Order has been math, by the Minister and laid before Parliament. The owners will, therefore, have chosen to take the risk of compulsory sale rather than carry out the directions of the Board, and will have had an opportunity of being heard on the proceedings for the making of the Order. But under Clause 8 a main transmission line can be compulsorily acquired by the Board if it is so provided by the scheme. The owners have no choice and have not 997 defaulted in carrying out the directions of the Board.
§ Further, the severance of a main transmissions line may seriously affect the general distribution system of the owners. They may have to provide a new line, or to make re-arrangements of their system at a higher cost than the price which they will receive under the Schedule. There should be a provision to protect the owners against loss from such consequences.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 38, line 10, at end insert the said words.—(Lord Askwith.)
§ VISCOUNT PEELThis deals, of course, with main transmission lines. My noble friend is afraid that a main transmission line may be taken from one of these undertakers and that there ought to be some damage for severance, as it may injure their business. But main transmission lines do not form part of the business of the authorised undertakers and, therefore, the case would not arise; so I do not think it is necessary to make any provision for it.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ First Schedule agreed to.
§ Second Schedule: