Oral Answers to Questions — Transport. – in the House of Commons at on 24 January 1940.
Sir William Davison
, Kensington South
asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Central London Electricity Company are raising their fixed quarterly charges under the commercial two-part tai4ff by practically 100 per cent.; and whether he can take any action to secure more reasonable treatment to subscribers?
Captain Euan Wallace
, Hornsey
I have asked the Electricity Commissioners to let me have a full report on the increased charges by the Central London Electricity Limited, to which my hon. Friend refers, and I am hoping to receive this report very shortly.
Sir William Davison
, Kensington South
While thanking the Minister for his answer, may I ask whether the Government recognise how hard it is on people who are remaining in London on national service and other important business to have these heavy increases in electricity charges made, largely by reason of the evacuation policy of the Government?
Captain Euan Wallace
, Hornsey
I should prefer to await the full report from the Electricity Commissioners before making any pronouncement.
Major Abraham Lyons
, Leicester East
Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether the increased charges will be levied before his reception of the report?
Captain Euan Wallace
, Hornsey
The company have given notice that the increased charges are to be levied in the fourth quarter, which I gather is the first quarter of this year.
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
Can the right hon. and gallant Member give an assurance that if it is established, prima facie, that these charges are excessive he will exercise all the powers he has to reduce the charges, arid, secondly, if he has not, as I apprehend to be the case, sufficient powers to deal with the two-part tariff as distinct from the flat rate, he will bring in legislation in order that this profiteering may be stopped?
Captain Euan Wallace
, Hornsey
While I have no power in normal circumstances to deal with charges which are within the statutory maxima, I have power under the Defence Regulations, and if on receipt of this report it appears to me that there is justification for Intervention on my part I shall certainly consider in what way I can deal with it.
Sir Edward Keeling
, Twickenham
May I ask my right hon. and gallant Friend if, when he gets the report, he will consider whether such enormous increases would have been justified if electricity were subject to the Prices of Goods Act?
Captain Euan Wallace
, Hornsey
That is one of the things I shall have to consider.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
An intervention is when the MP making a speech is interrupted by another MP and asked to 'give way' to allow the other MP to intervene on the speech to ask a question or comment on what has just been said.
