§ 8. Mr. Dumpletonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the estimated electricity generating capacity available at peak for this winter as compared with last year; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the cause of the failure to reach the increase of 1,020,000 kilowatts estimated in the Economic Survey for 1948.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe available capacity of the stations now controlled by the British Electricity Authority was approximately 9,380,000 kilowatts in January, 1948, and is expected to be approximately 9,707,000 kilowatts in January, 1949. The increase of capacity is less than was estimated in the Economic Survey because more plant—to the extent of some 200,000 kilowatts—will have to be taken out of service for repair and less new plant—to the extent of between 500,000 and 600,000 kilowatts—will have been commissioned than was expected.
The British Electricity Authority have already carried out a full inquiry into the reasons why it has not been possible to bring new plant into commission on the scale contemplated in the Economic Survey. The main explanation is that the estimates in the Survey were too high. in the light of the capacity of the manufacturing industries concerned, their export commitments and shortage of skilled labour and materials. These estimates were made before vesting date and before it was possible to correlate precisely all the necessary information about the progress of work at and for the power stations owned and under construction by the many separate undertakings throughout the country.
There were also delays in individual cases where the undertaking concerned altered designs at the last minute, failed to let contracts in time or did not adequately supervise the execution of the contracts. More generally, lack of co-ordination in the placing of orders and absence of standardisation, to a large extent inevitable while responsibility was diffused and before it was concentrated in the hands of a single authority, have held up progress.
§ Mr. DumpletonSince the increase in actual capacity has fallen so far short of that estimated for this year in the Economic Survey, can my right hon. Friend say whether the estimated increase of 1,450,000 kilowatts for next year is likely to be reached, or whether the figures given for the subsequent years are really reliable?
§ Mr. GaitskellI am not in a position to give detailed figures for subsequent years. I should certainly think it most unlikely that the figure for 1949 mentioned in the Survey will be attained.
§ Mr. RankinCould my right hon. Friend give the figures for peak demand and peak supply relating to Scotland?
§ Mr. GaitskellNot without notice.