§ 22. Sir Ian Fraserasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make a statement about the electricity supply this winter for the domestic consumer.
§ Mr. GaitskellI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hen. Friend the Minister of Labour to my hon. Friend the Member for Hulme (Mr. Lee) on the 8th July, and to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 30th July, to which, at present, I have nothing to add.
§ Sir I. FraserIn view of the great obscurity of that answer, could the Minister make it clear whether he is going to provide enough electricity for the cold winter in view of the fact that we have had cuts in the supply when the temperature has been above 50 degrees?
§ Mr. GaitskellI think the House generally is aware that we face a difficult problem of the gap between demand and generating capacity this winter. The cuts which have occurred during the summer are, of course, due partly to the exceptionally cold summer and, partly, to the fact that much plant is withdrawn from use at that time.