§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what technical and scientific advice they received on the redevelopment of Lots Road Power Station, and if they will publish it.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, before the British Transport Commission formulated their proposals for the redevelopment of the Lots Road generating station they sought the advice of a panel of three leading firms of electrical consulting engineers. In submitting their proposals for the approval of my right honourable friend they informed him of the advice they had received from the panel. The publication of the panel's Report would be a matter for the London Transport Board.
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, will the noble Lord inquire from the London Transport Board whether they will make that Report available? May we also have the names of the consulting engineers involved in this large expenditure of millions of pounds in a densely populated area, particularly in view of the fact that the cost of generation at the London Transport power stations is considerably higher than that of the Central Electricity Generating Board?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, the names of the consultants concerned are Messrs. Kennedy and Donkin, Messrs. Merz and McLellan and Messrs. Preece, Cardew and Rider. They reported in 486 1960. The essence of their Report was that, while the main supply should be obtained from the grid, there should be an independent source available to provide a substantial part of the supply. The intention of this was to ensure that in the event of failure of supplies from the grid the deep Tubes could remain working. I can only say to the noble Lord that I have no doubt that the London Transport Board will see what he has said; and, as I said before, the question of publication is a matter for them.
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for the further information which he has imparted to your Lordships' House, is he aware that, with regard to the provision of an altertive supply to the London Transport Board, the Board are actually closing clown one of their stations—namely, Neasden? How does he reconcile this with that statement?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, the Question, of course, applies to Lots Road, and I think the matter of the provision of an alternative supply is one within the responsibility of management of the Board.