§ 84. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the President of the Board of Trade if it is his intention to proceed further with the Severn Tidal Power Scheme inquiry, in view of the fact that the City of Bristol is proposing to spend about £1,000,000 in the erection of an electrical station in close proximity to the River Severn to serve Bristol and part of the surrounding district?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKThe practicability of the Severn Barrage Power Scheme has been referred to the Committee of Civil Research, which has appointed a special sub-Committee to advise on the whole question. Any local electrical developments will no doubt be brought to the notice of the sub-Committee by the Departments immediately concerned.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKDoes my hon. Friend propose to continue this inquiry on a work involving the expenditure of millions on an electrical power scheme which would compete with the scheme which the City of Bristol is now proposing to commence at an initial cost of one million pounds?
§ Mr. W. BAKERIs it not immediately necessary that a new power station should be erected to meet present-day requirements?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKThe matter is before the special sub-Committee, and no doubt they will take all these matters into consideration.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKAre you going to waste money on further inquiry after Bristol has received permission to proceed, as the estimated cost of the inquiry was stated to be from £70,000 to £90,000?
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERWas not this matter referred for consideration 18 months ago? Cannot the hon. Member now say what stage the inquiry has reached?