§ 80. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the average domestic and industrial tariffs paid by consumers for electricity in different parts of the United Kingdom and those to be paid by consumers in the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's area after 1st August this year.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellAs the reply includes a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the information:
The latest published figures show that the average prices paid by domestic and industrial consumers in each of the electricity board areas in England and Wales and in the areas of the Scottish electricity boards were as follows:
135W
Board Domestic Pence per unit Industrial 1968–69— England and Wales London 2.439 2.065 South-Eastern 2.220 1.670 South-Western 2.211 1.556 Eastern 2.171 1.749 South Wales 2.158 1.360 Merseyside and North Wales 2.136 1.310 East Midlands 2.120 1.545 Southern 2.100 1.787 North-Eastern 2.092 1.393 Midlands 2.035 1.[...] Yorkshire 2.015 1.487 North Western 2.009 1.544 Scotland North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board 1.801 1.640 South of Scotland Electricity Board 1.649 1.599 1969–70 North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board 1.747 1.636 South of Scotland Electricity Board 1.622 1.614 The recently announced tariff increases are expected to average 10 per cent. for domestic consumers and 3 per cent. for industrial consumers in the north of Scotland, and 12 per cent. for domestic consumers in the south of Scotland.
§ 82. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the effect of increased electricity charges by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe revised tariffs are expected to increase the revenue of the Board by about 7½ per cent.
§ 85. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will refer the proposed increase in tariffs by the South of Scotland Electricity Board to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy on price increases by nationalised industries.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellNo.
§ Mr. Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he approved the increased electricity charges proposed by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, to take effect from the first meter reading on or after 1st August; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe Board was informed on 3rd July that I had noted the proposed increases, of which my predecessor had been notified, and assumed that they would be introduced as soon as possible. The Board considers the increases necessary because of cost increases outside its control which could not be absorbed by increased productivity and takes the view that without them it would be unable to meet its statutory obligation to balance its revenue account.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board has raised the price of electricity by 7½ per cent.; and what proposals he has to restrain prices in this field in future.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to the hon. Member for Paisley (Mr. John Robertson)136W on 8th July and my hon. Friend the Member for Banff (Mr. Baker) today. The notification of the increase was made some weeks ago to my predecessor.—[Vol. 803, c. 61.]