§ 4.43 p.m.
§ Baroness Blatch rose to move, That the draft order laid before the House on 6th March be approved [14th Report from the Joint Committee].
§ The noble Baroness said: My Lords, this order deals with two small technical changes to the working of the prescribed rates assessment of the electricity generating industry. It corrects minor flaws in the existing orders dealing with independent electricity generators and the three generating companies formed from the Central Electricity Generating Board.
§ Article 2 of the order amends the way in which the prescription of rateable value applies to independent generators which burn refuse as their energy source or are part of a combined heat and power plant. Article 3 of the order corrects a fault in the annual updating factor used to adjust the prescribed values of the three generating successors to CEGB, namely, National Power, PowerGen and Nuclear Electric.
§ Before drafting this order, we consulted the ratepayers who would be affected by it. They raised no objection to what is contained in the order. Therefore, I commend it to the House.
§ Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 6th March be approved [14th Report from the Joint Committee].—(Baroness Blatch).
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.