HC Deb 05 December 1950 vol 482 cc185-6
24. Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for any convenient date in 1951, the amount of electricity which it is estimated will be generated by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board; and the proportion which will be generated by water power.

Mr. McNeil

The Hydro-Electric Board expect to generate about 444,000 kilowatts towards the end of 1951. Of that total, 324,000 will be from water power, 90,000 from steam, and 30,000 from diesel engines.

Mr. Grimond

Will the Secretary of State reaffirm that it is the intention that the first claim on the electricity generated by the Board, and most especially on that from the smaller schemes, and from those not powered by water, should lie with the Highland area itself?

Mr. McNeil

That is the intention and the practice.

Sir William Darling

Will the Secretary of State say how the figure he has given compares with that of last year's generation?

Mr. McNeil

Not without notice.

Commander Galbraith

What proportion of the power generated will be retained in the north of Scotland, and what proportion will be exported?

Mr. McNeil

I think that that is a question to which it would be risky to give an answer. There is a violent controversy going on amongst experts on the subject, in which I have no intention of interfering if I can avoid doing so.