§ Mr. MILLSasked the Prime Minister if any further consideration has been given to the scheme prepared by Sir Eric Geddes for the utilisation of the waters of the Severn river for the generation of electrical power; and whether, in view of the widespread unemployment and the possibilities of economy of costs in this scheme, the Government are prepared to sanction its construction?
§ Mr. NEALI have been asked to reply. I would remind the hon. Member that the Water Power Resources Committee considered the subject of tidal power and expressed the view that the technical information available in regard to the possibility of utilising the tides in the Severn for the generation of power was not sufficiently precise to enable them to express a final opinion. The Committee recommended that a Technical Commission should be set up by the Board of Trade in consultation with the Ministry of Transport to investigate the possibility from a commercial standpoint with special reference to the Severn Estuary. Owing to the financial position and the necessity for drastically curtailing the expenditure of Government Departments, it has not been practicable to set up the proposed commission.