Mr. De la B èreasked the Minister of Transport whether he will make statutory regulations or orders requiring electricity supply undertakings to provide all applicants for service facilities or current with a clear statement of their rights in respect of the provision of those services or, alternatively, consider taking steps to ask Parliament for such powers?
§ Captain WallaceI assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the provision by statutory undertakers to consumers of a statement setting out the terms on which they can requisition for a supply of electricity. These are contained in Sections 24, 25 and 27 of the Schedule to the Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act, 1899. I have no power to make regulations or orders to this end, and even if electricity-undertakers were required by statute to draw the attention of prospective consumers to these provisions it would, in my opinion, be of little practical value in view of the number of cases, particularly in rural areas, where the provisions would not assist prospective consumers.
In view of these facts I should not feel justified in asking Parliament for the powers to which my hon. Friend refers.