§ Sir C. Sinclairasked the Minister of Power what was the total cost to the electricity supply industry of meter reading, including supervisory staff, in each of the last 10 years; and what proposals he has received for setting up a system of combined load control and automatic remote meter reading using telephone or pilot wires.
§ Mr. FreesonAs regards the first part of the Question the figures are as follows:
Area Electricity Boards in England and Wales Salaries, superannuation, etc., in respect of meter readers and prepayment collectors (from the Annual Reports of the Electricity Council) £ 1957–58 … … … 2,545,640 1958–59 … … … 2,643,494 1959–60 … … … 2,660,966 1960–61 … … … 2,820,899 1961–62 … … … 2,965,451 1962–63 … … … 3,164,957 1963–64 … … … 3,410,958 1964–65 … … … 3,866,532 1965–66 … … … 4,451,135 1966–67 … … … 4,794,726 As regards the second part, the research and development programme which the Electricity Council settles with my right hon. Friend, includes provision for work in this field.