§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Power what estimate he made of the charges that would have to be made to consumers in each board area as a result of the agreed financial objectives of the electricity and gas boards; and to what extent these estimates distinguished domestic and industrial tariffs.
§ Mr. WoodThe extent to which charges may have to be varied in any area to achieve the agreed financial objectives is a matter for the board concerned to determine. It will depend on a variety of factors affecting the Board's costs over the next five years.
§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Power to what extent he took into account the need to keep production costs at a minimum in areas producing large volumes of goods for export when agreeing the financial objectives for the five years up to 1966–67 of the electricity and gas boards, with particular reference to the Boards responsible for the North Staffordshire and north-western areas; and if he will give details of the circumstances, needs and capabilities of the 122W Boards that he took into account when agreeing these objectives.
§ Mr. WoodThe criteria laid down in paragraph 19 of Cmnd. 1337, on which the Electricity and Gas Boards' financial objectives for the five years 1962–63 to 1966–67 are based, relate to the financial performance of the Boards, and not to the circumstances of particular categories of consumers in particular areas. The circumstances, needs and capabilities of each Board embrace its whole situation as a financially autonomous business.