Tuesday, 20th July, 1926.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sir ROBERT SANDERS in the Chair (Morning).

Mr. SHORT (in place of Sir ROBERT SANDERS) in the Chair

(Afternoon).

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederick Lieut.-Col. Lambert Ward

ELECTRICITY (SUPPLY) BILL.

Schedule 2, further considered.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 27, line 30, to leave out the words "less than five nor more than six and a half," in order to insert the words "more than five "--(Mr. Hardie), instead thereof.-Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Schedule."The Committee divided :

Another Amendment proposed, in page 27, line 31, at the end, to insert the words:

"Provided that in the case of any company which is a London company within the meaning of the London and Home Counties Electricity District Order, 1925, such average rate aforesaid shall be taken to be the average rate of the interest payable by the company and of the dividend which such company is entitled to retain or distribute in the year of account under the provisions of the London Electricity (Nos. 1 and 2) Acts, 1925, together with a proper proportion of any

co-partnership benefit payable in such year under the said Acts or either of them "-(Mr. Hannon).

Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted." Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 27, line 32, to leave out all the words from the word "of" to the end of line 37— (Mr. Attlee).-Question, "That the words proposed to be left out, to the end of line 36, stand part of the Clause," put, and agreed to.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 27, line 36, at the end, to insert the words "so, however, that the allowance. shall not be less than the allowance made in the case of a company "-(Mr. Hardie).-Question, "That those words. be there inserted,"-put, and negatived.

Other Amendments made, in page 27, line 36, at the end, by inserting the words :-

"Provided that where part of the expenditure was defrayed otherwise than by means of loans the allowance for depreciation shall be increased by such amount as the Electricity Commissioners think just ";

in page 27, line 39, by leaving out the words "the Electricity Commissioners," and adding the words " special order"-(Colonel Ashley), -instead thereof; and in page 27, after the Amendment last added, by adding the words :

"Provided that in the case of any company which is a London company within the meaning of the London and Home Counties Electricity District Order, 1925, the amount of such allowance for depreciation shall not be less than the contributions for the year of account which the company is required to make to the sinking fund under the provisions of the London Electricity (Nos. 1 and 2) Acts, 1925 "-(Mr. Hannon).

Another Amendment proposed, in page 27, after the Amendment last added, to add the words :

66

(1) the proper proportion of the sums (if any) set aside to any contingency or special purposes fund of the owners"-(Colonel Sir Joseph Nall).

Question proposed, "That those words be there added.”

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Schedule, as amended, agreed to.

Schedule 3.

Amendments made, in page 28, line 6, by leaving out the word "main"-(Sir Douglas Newton); by leaving out the words "belonging to," and inserting the words "used by," instead thereof; in page 28, line 7, by leaving out the word "used"-(Colonel Sir Joseph Nall); and in page 28, line 10, by leaving out the words " (including rent, rates, and taxes)," and inserting the words "attributable to the transmission line "-(Colonel Ashley),—instead thereof.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 28, after the Amendment last inserted, to insert the words "contributions for pensions, superannuation and insurance of officers and servants"-Colonel Sir Joseph Nall).-Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 28, after the Amendment last inserted, to insert the words:

"(2) Sums paid as rents, rates, and taxes (other than taxes on profits) in respect of the transmission line"-(Colonel Ashley).

Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted."

Amendment proposed to the proposed Amendment, in line 1, after the first word "taxes," to insert the words "and for insurance" (Colonel Sir Joseph Nall).-Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted in the proposed Amendment."

Amendment to the proposed Amendment, by leave, with

drawn.

Proposed words there inserted.

Another Amendment made, in page 28, line 11, by leaving out the word "main "-(Sir Douglas Newton).

Another Amendment proposed, in page 28, line 12, at the end, to insert the words:

"(4) All other expenses on

revenue account attributable to the transmission line "-(Colonel Sir Joseph Nall).

Question, "That those words be there inserted,"--put, and negatived.

Other Amendments made, in page 28, line 16, by leaving out the words "the capital properly," and inserting the words "money properly expended for capital purposes (whether defrayed out of capital or revenue) and"(Colonel Ashley),—instead thereof; and by leaving out the word "main"(Sir Douglas Newton).

Another Amendment proposed, in page 28, line 28, at the end, to insert the words :

"(6) Interest at the rate aforesaid on working capital
properly attributable to the transmission line
and the transmission of electricity thereby
(Colonel Sir Joseph Nall).

Question, "That those words be there inserted,"-put, and negatived.

Other Amendments made, in page 28, line 33, at the end, by inserting the words :

66

"Provided that, where part of the cost of the construction of the transmission line was defrayed out of revenue, the allowance for depreciation shall be increased by such amount as the Electricity Commissioners think just ";

in page 28, lines 36 and 37, by leaving out the words "the Electricity Commissioners," and inserting the words special order"-(Colonel Ashley),-instead thereof; and in page 28, after the Amendment last inserted, by inserting the words :

"Provided that in the case of any company which is a London company within the meaning of the