§ Mr. Smithersasked the Minister of Power on what date the Gas Council transmitted to him the report of Professor Illing as to the geological and 13W allied aspects of the proposals contained in the Gas (Underground Storage) (Chilcomb) Bill, 1961, to the introduction of which he has given his consent.
§ Mr. WoodThe Gas Council has kept my Department informed of the advice it has had from Professor Illing. This advice has now been collated by him into a report to the Gas Council, a copy of which was given to me on 28th February.
§ Mr. Smithersasked the Minister of Power on what date he received from the Gas Council the report tendered to them by the Geological Survey which contains important stipulations as to precautions necessary to avoid risks of fire, contamination and subsidence as a result of the proposed storage of gas under the City of Winchester and the adjoining rural areas; and whether he took account of these stipulations when giving his consent to the promotion of a Bill by the Gas Council to give legislative effect to the scheme.
§ Mr. WoodA memorandum by the Geological Survey confirmed that gas could, with suitable precautions, be stored in the area without risk of leakage or of surface subsidence. This was sent to my Department by the Office of the Minister for Science on 13th February. As I have previously explained to my hon. Friend, my consent to the promotion of the Bill had regard to its general objectives and the necessity for them to be examined by Parliament.