§ 116. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements he has made to reduce the promotional advertising expenditure of the nationalised gas and electricity boards; what aggregate sum of money has thus been economised; how far such sums will now be devoted to capital projects of a production character; and how he proposes in future to control and regulate promotional advertising expenditure of the nationalised gas and electricity boards.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydFor the current financial year the gas and electricity industries, taken together, are reducing their expenditure on advertising by nearly £½ million which will be available to 19W finance capital investment. I do not propose to regulate this advertising, but I shall continue to confer with both industries on this subject as occasion demands.
§ 117. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, what reduction of planned capital expenditure during this year and next year he has arranged in respect of the nationalised gas and electricity industries, in conformity with the present economic policy; to what extent gas and electricity production will thereby be affected; and in what manner reduction of capital investment has been achieved.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydThe whole question is at present under review and figures are not available, but it is already clear that capital projects amounting to several million pounds have been slowed down or postponed. In revising their20W capital investment programmes both industries have full regard to the need to maintain essential production of gas and electricity.