§ Mr. Prescottasked the Minister of Fuel acid Power whether he will make a statement on the circular issued by the London and South-Eastern Regional Board for Industry relative to reductions in consumption of electricity in the City of London by 50 per cent. at peak hours during November and throughout the whole day during the months of December, January and February; and whether he is aware that recipients are asked to sign a form of acknowledgment and compliance; that the terms of the circular are not clear and that full compliance would result in great difficulty for all industry.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe Circular to which the hon. Member refers is apparently that issued by the City of London Working216W Committee for Load Spreading to commercial consumers, and therefore the question of compliance by "all industry" does not arise. Attached to it was a printed form of acknowledgment which included the sentence "arrangements will be made to comply with these requirements." It is presumed that those commercial consumers who were unable to make such arrangements struck out this sentence. The Circular did not ask for consumption to be reduced by 50 per cent. but for load not to exceed 50 per cent. of installed capacity, which was estimated would produce the 20 per cent. reduction required. I am advised that in general commercial firms understand the position and are co-operating effectively.