asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the recent breakdown at the London County Council power station at Greenwich; if he is aware that the breakdown was caused by overloading the machinery in consequence of there not being enough machinery to generate the amount of power required for general use; and if he will cause an inquiry to be held in connection with the recent breakdown?

I am informed by the London County Council that the breakdown in question occurred in consequence of a cotter falling out of the high-pressure piston rod of one of the engines, and that there is no foundation for the suggestion that the mishap was caused by overloading the machinery. I hardly think that an inquiry such as my hon. Friend suggests would serve any useful purpose.