§ Mr. LECKIEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make inquiries into the allegation that the amount of electric power developed by the water from the Sea of Galilee has not come up to the expectations of the Palestine Electric Corporation; and whether the same power could have been developed at less cost by other means without using the water of the Sea of Galilee at all?
Mr. THOMASI will ask the High Commissioner for Palestine whether he can supply any information on the points raised in the question.
§ Mr. LECKIEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, in spite of repeated protests, the desecration of the Sea of Galilee by the operations of the Palestine Electric Corporation still goes on; that walls have now been built on the foreshore shutting off the public front access to one portion of the lake; that the raising of the lake level to a maximum of one metre above its normal height will inundate large tracts of land around the shore, including many sacred Christian spots; and if, in view of the dissatisfaction which exists, he will appoint an unbiased British electrical engineer of standing to go out to investigate and report on the whole position, steps being taken in the meantime to prevent further tampering with the lake?
Mr. THOMASI am aware that certain work is being carried out on the shores of the Sea of Galilee with a view to preventing a recurrence of flooding. I am at present awaiting the observations of the High Commissioner for Palestine upon the suggestion that an independent engineer should be appointed to report on the whole position.