§ Sir J. WITHERSasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the failure of the electricity supply in the Metropolitan area on the night of 6th December over an area of 12 square miles; and whether, seeing that this failure caused danger to the public in thoroughfares, hospitals, theatres, cinemas, railways and other public places within that area, and in order to avoid a recurrence of such a state of affairs, he will take steps to ensure that there shall be in reserve a gas supply in all such public places?
Mr. STANLEYI have been asked to reply. I am advised that the failure of the electrical supply in parts of North London on 6th December was due to an accident in the Willesden Power Station of the North Metropolitan Electric Supply Company, the effects of which were serious owing to a combination of circumstances which are extremely unlikely to recur. In these circumstances, I do not think that any question of reserve supplies arises.