§ Captain BOWYERasked the Minister of Transport whether in the case of the proposed inquiry commencing 14th June in connection with electricity schemes for the London and Home Counties area under the Electricity Supply Act, 1919, no agreed scheme has been deposited, but only a number of conflicting proposals; and whether, seeing that such an inquiry, if not limited to a few days only, will involve serious costs and expenses to electric supply undertakers, borough councils, railway companies, and others whose interests are affected, he will take steps to abbreviate to the shortest possible limit this inquiry?
§ Mr. NEALOf six schemes which have been deposited, the three principal ones, relating to the whole district, are in general agreement on their main engineering proposals. The Electricity Commissioners will take all possible steps, consistent with a proper hearing, to shorten the inquiry with the view of reducing expenditure to a minimum. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and the Electricity Commissioners do not consider that these inquiries necessitate1080W the incurring of heavy expenses. The Commissioners embodied this view in a Circular issued by them on 15th December, 1920, of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy.