Orders of the Day — ELECTRICITY (SUPPLY) BILL [Lords].

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 25 Gorffennaf 1922.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr George Balfour Mr George Balfour , Hampstead

My hon. Friend, I am sure, would not willingly or knowingly use words here which are contrary to the words he used in Committee. But I challenge him directly. Members who are on the Committee will know whether I am correct. He never used the words "confer with the Power Companies Association," and quite rightly so. He never referred to meeting the Municipal Associations when we were discussing it in Committee, and quite rightly. I think it was his business and his duty to confer with the Members of the Committee who were making Parliamentary representations upstairs, and not, immediately the Committee broke up, to hobnob with various associations and put a Clause on the Paper without discussing it with those Members of Parliament who were serving on the Committee. What happened? I was called away on urgent business. I heard that this Clause was down, and I made inquiries. It is true my hon. Friend had a meeting with the Power Companies Association. Why did he not acquaint me with the fact? Why did he not take the trouble to ask me to he present? I suggest that it was because I should have challenged some of the statements which were made to that association which induced them to agree to this Clause. I think my hon. Friend said to the members of that association that, if some such such Clause was not agreed to, there would be grave danger of imperilling Clause 15, which had been given as a binding pledge by the Government. Why did he discuss it in private with the members of the Power Companies Association when no Member of Parliament was there to challenge his presentation of the case, and why did he warn them that there would be serious and grave danger of the Government breaking a pledge?