asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the differences between the charges for electricity in urban areas and in country and other areas outside the low-rated areas; and whether, in order to eliminate the hardship and difficulty facing those using electricity under the latter conditions, and in order to encourage a greater use of the service available, he will take steps to make electricity a national service, and to make the charges uniform throughout the whole of Britain?

I am aware that, owing to such factors as the lower density of population and the smaller number of consumers in relation to the capital expenditure involved, the charges for electricity in rural areas are in a number of cases higher than in adjoining urban areas. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.