§ 67. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, what is the average calorific value of coal supplied to electricity and gas undertakings as shown by the amount of coal consumed and electricity produced by a representative number of public and privately owned concerns for the years 1935 and 1947; and what was the average cost of the coal for the same two years.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe average calorific value of the coal consumed by all those authorised electricity undertakings which consume coal only, fell from 11,300 British thermal units per lb. in 1935–36 to 10,934 units per lb. in 1946–47, but owing to improved methods of generation the average number of units produced during this period per ton of coal consumed at these stations increased from 1,545 to 1,551 units. During the same period the average delivered cost of coal consumed at these undertakings increased from 14s. 2d. to 435. 2d. per ton. Corresponding records are not available as regards the calorific value and cost of coal consumed at gas works.
§ Mr. OsborneIs the Minister aware that at some of the electricity stations about 30 per cent. more coal is required to produce the same amount of electricity as compared with pre-war, and does that not mean that the output of coal today ought to be reduced by about 30 per cent. to compare with the pre-war figure?
§ Mr. GaitskellI cannot agree with those figures. Of course, it is a fact that some power stations are much more efficient than others.