§ Sir A. GRIDLEYasked the Minister of Transport for how many hours the elec- 688W tricity supply in Bradford was totally cut off, as from 6.20 p.m. on 24th February; the cause of the failure in the corporation's Valley Road power station; why the interlinking of so important a city and its electricity supply with the main transmission grid was not such as to secure alternative and effective supplies from other selected stations in such circumstances as occurred; and whether, in view of the importance at all times of the maintenance of supply to large industrial areas, and especially in the event of war, he will call for a thorough inquiry into the breakdown at Bradford and give publicity to the same?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI understand that the failure of supplies at the Bradford station occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on Monday, 24th February; that a limited supply was made available at 6 a.m. on the following day, 25th February; and that further supplies were restored the same night enabling about half the normal requirements to be met. The chief engineering inspector of the Electricity Commissioners visited Bradford the day following the failure and a full investigation will be made. The Commissioners propose to publish a report on the matter in due course.