§ 25. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Minister of Transport if he has received the Report from the Expert Committee appointed on the recommendation of the Committee of Civil Research in 1926 with reference to the Severn barrage; if so, when will he be able to present the Report to the House; and whether any decision has been arrived at regarding the advisability or otherwise of constructing a Severn barrage?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI understand that the Expert Committee have presented a Report which will shortly be considered by the Severn Barrage Sub-Committee of the Committee of Civil Research. I cannot at present say whether this Report will be published.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether as early as 1920 the Water Power Board recommended this inquiry to be made, and whether in April, 1924, the Labour Commission allowed £30,000, and that since that time the Commission has been going on and no work or report has been made?
§ Colonel ASHLEYBecause it is an extremely difficult and big proposition and would cost a good many millions. Therefore, every aspect of the question must be investigated.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKDoes my right hon. Friend remember stating last year that the Report had been made, and is there no communication to be made with reference to that?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo. I think the Report that I referred to then was not the same one as this, but was on a different aspect of the matter altogether.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs not this inaction what "safety first" means?