HC Deb 04 November 1929 vol 231 cc625-6W
Mr. DAY

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the inconvience to the public caused by the various failures of the electric light supplies on several occasions in the district of the County of London during the last six months; and can he say whether it is intended to hold an Inquiry?

Mr. HERBERT MORRISON

I under stand from reports in the Press that there have been certain temporary local failures of electric light supplies. I think that undertakers are fully alive to their statutory obligations as regards continuity of supply, but allowance must be made for unavoidable accidents. As at present advised I do not intend to hold an Inquiry.

Major GLYN

asked the Minister of Transport what is the average cost per point of light at which cottages of normal council type are supplied with electrical current by the authorised undertakers under the Electricity Act in the Counties of Cumberland, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Essex, Hampshire, and Berkshire?

Mr. HERBERT MORRISON

I am not able to give the average cost of electrical current per week, per lighting point, installed in the case of consumers living in cottages in the various counties referred to. So far as I am aware, there are only a few cases where electricity is supplied to small consumers at so much per lighting point. There are, however, a number of cases where the undertakers charge in accordance with a two-part tariff consisting of a fixed or service charge per quarter, related in some way to the lighting installation or lighting points, plus a small running charge per unit for each unit of electricity consumed. If it would serve the hon. Member's purpose, I will send him information as to tariffs of this kind in force in districts in which he is interested.