§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the provision of cheap electricity for the extension of aluminium smelting in the United Kingdom is affected by the fair trading provisions of the Rome treaties; and to what extent it is Government policy to discriminate in favour of specific industries through the supply of low-priced electric power.
§ Mr. BennI have been asked to reply.
No decisions have been taken on the extension of aluminium smelters in the United Kingdom or on power supplies for such extensions. Where the published tariffs are not appropriate owing to special circumstances, the price charged for the supply of electricity is a matter for negotiation between the electricity supply authorities and individual consumers, subject to the authorities' statutory obligation not to show undue discrimination to any person or class of persons.