§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from electricity consultative councils in Scotland concerning charges and insulation policy; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe Electricity Consultative Council for the North of Scotland district has submitted formal representations to my right hon. Friend, under the provisions of schedule 7 to the Electricity (Scotland) Act 1979, asking that he should direct the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to refrain from implementing its decision to introduce a surcharge on tariffs in its diesel areas. These representations are at present under consideration.
At a meeting with officials of the Scottish Economic Planning Department on 17 March, a deputation from the Scottish electricity consultative councils put forward a number of points about pricing policy for electricity and were assured that these would be taken into account in the determination of a financial target for the Scottish electricity boards.
The deputation also protested about alleged reductions in the public expenditure provision for grants under the homes insulation scheme and was informed that no such reductions have been made in Scotland.