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

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."

This new Clause is in very similar terms to that moved by my hon. Friend beside me (Mr. Hannon). I should like to refresh the memory of the Parliamentary Secretary, and refer him to what he said in Committee when I had on the Paper this Amendment in exactly the same words— I think it would be inconvenient if I added anything to the specific statement which I made when the Committee last met I have had under consideration the form of words which I shall be glad to show my hon. Friend, and I think his difficulties will disappear when he sees it."—[OFFICIAL REPORT. Standing Committee, 10th July, 1922; col. 184.] I do not know whether I possess some particularly offensive quality which rather irritates and jars my hon. Friend (Mr. Neal), but again it is my lot—while I have spent many arduous hours in the Committee upstairs, when I had a promise at the time I had Amendments on the Paper and we agreed to leave them to she Report stage, when a form of words would be produced, and no doubt the Parliamentary Secretary would be able to arrange matters with me—to be disappointed. I have heard nothing. I have put my Amendments on the Paper, and even since they have been on the Paper, I have not had any communication from the hon. Gentleman. Why? This new Clause really does nothing more than protect the case of stations transferred, whereas the other new Clause just accepted deals with the conditions under which restriction on generating stations and obligation to take supply from are not to apply. I think if these two Clauses are analysed it will be found that they are really a complement of each other. I am afraid without undue delay it would he quite impossible to argue and reason out the whole of this Clause. The other Clause has been accepted. This Clause is in similar terms, and I think it should only be necessary for me to commend it to the hon. Gentleman and remind him of his words in Committee promising to 'consult me as to this Clause.