§ 19. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that notwithstanding his refusal to grant new 2W finance to the nationalised electricity industry for hire-purchase contract facilities during 1956, such hire-purchase sales of television sets, vacuum cleaners, radios, and similar equipment are proceeding; that such sales are being financed at the expense of power station construction, rural electrification, and other similar essential work; and, as this is being financed out of working capital, whether he will withdraw this capital to repay outstanding capital borrowing by the Authority under Treasury guarantee.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesI would agree with my hon. Friend that especially in present circumstances available capital should be used to the best advantage, and I will not overlook his point when I come to consider how the industry's reduced programme is to be financed.