§ Sir H. JACKSONasked the Minister of Transport the date when a settlement may be expected of the details of the sliding scales of prices and dividends as provided for in the Third Schedule of the London Electricity (No. 1) Act, 1925?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe position is that the London County Council, after pro-1904W longed negotiations with the companies, were unable to arrive at a complete agreement as to certain items which should be allowed in computing the total amount of costs and charges on which the standard prices for electricity will be based, and the matters in dispute consequently fall to be determined either by arbitration or by the Electricity Commissioners. There are altogether 14 companies concerned, and the Commissioners have already determined the standard prices in respect of six of them. With regard to the East End group of four companies, to which the question particularly refers, the London County Council being unable to come to an agreement with three of them, the Commissioners have heard the parties on the points of difference, and certain detailed statements have been supplied by the companies within the last few days which will enable the Commissioners to settle the amounts in dispute and then to determine the standard prices. As to the remaining company (the City of London company) the Commissioners have been waiting to hear from the City Corporation who desired to be heard. It is hoped that the standard prices of all four companies will be determined at an early date.