Major W. W. Hicks Beachasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the opposition in Gloucestershire to the proposals of the British Electricity Authority concerning the Birmingham․Melksham power line; if he will bear in mind the fact that in view of the development in atomic energy it is probable that the authority's proposals, if adopted, will become redundant within a foreseeable time; and if he will make a 98W statement on the action he proposes to take in this matter.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydA joint public inquiry into the application for permission to erect this line was held at Cheltenham on 27th January and I am awaiting the report of the officers who held it. I shall consider all the views put forward at the inquiry before making my decision on the application.
Since electricity generated by nuclear energy will have to be transmitted to the point where it is consumed, future developments are most unlikely to make the grid redundant.