§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the review of off-peak tariffs in Scotland has been completed; and whether he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. William RossI have asked the Scottish electricity boards to restore the previous relationship in percentage terms between the run-on rate of each quarterly off-peak tariff and the run-on rate of the standard domestic tariff. I understand that this will be done by rebating consumers' bills. The reduced rates will take effect after one quarter's operation of the present published tariffs, that is for electricity used from the first meter reading after 1st September in the case of the South of Scotland Electricity Board and 3rd September in the case of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.
The boards have been assured that, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary draft order, any losses directly incurred by them in 1974–75 as a result of this readjustment of off-peak tariffs will be met by the Government as part of the compensation payable under the Statutory Corporations (Financial Provisions) Act 1974.