§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to require the United Kingdom electricity supply industry to fall into line with the proposed EEC-EFTA voltage supply change to 230 volts.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerA technical committee of the international electrotechnical commission, a non-governmental body with membership extending well beyond the member countries of the EC and EFTA, has for many years been discussing the standardisation of electricity supply voltages amongst its members, and it is expected that national committees will be asked to adopt a standard of 230 volts for use in national standard specifications, which in the United Kingdom are set by the224W British Standards Institute. However, the supply voltage in Great Britain is set at 240 volts by virtue of a statutory instrument rather than a British standard specification. The Government have no present plans to recommend to Parliament a change in the voltage of supply.