§ 4. Mr. Kershawasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what research is being conducted by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research into the possibility of distributing electric power without the aid of power lines, whether under or over ground.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works (Mr. Harmar Nicholls)None, Sir. The only economically practicable method of transmitting electric power is by some form of cable either above or below ground. Radio is not technically a feasible means of transmitting electric power.
§ Mr. KershawIs my hon. Friend satisfied that everything possible is being done? Does not he realise that before long a lot of the country will be an absolute bird cage because of these wires, that it will look disgusting, and cause difficulty for the farming community? If it is the fact that no economic alternative is available at the moment, what is being done to make existing methods cheaper?
§ Mr. NichollsThe research has disclosed that the existing cables can carry a bigger load than they have been carrying so far, and this will have the effect of reducing the amount that will have to be expended on new cables.