§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will state the total expended on gas supplies to public buildings by his Department during last year; and what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the proposed 8 per cent. rise in the charges for gas supplies in the current year.
§ Mr. PrenticeIn the financial year 1966–67, gas supplies to the public buildings for which I am responsible cost £609,000. I cannot estimate what the additional costs would be until the details of any increases are know. I understand that only one Gas Board has so far put forward proposals for tariff in-110W creases and that these are still under consideration.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will state the costs for electricity supplied to all Government buildings for the past 12 months; and to what extent the proposed 10 per cent. increases in electricity charges will affect the current year's expenditure.
§ Mr. PrenticeIn the financial year 1966–67, electricity supplied to Government buildings within my responsibility cost £3,728,000. Increases in charges will vary according to area and the type of premises served, and I cannot estimate their effects until details of the new tariffs are announced.