HC Deb 04 June 1951 vol 488 cc667-8
12. Mr. Pickthorn

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what are his plans for increased power production; and what consultations on this subject there have been with the American Economic Co-operation Administration.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Plans have been made to expand the production of electric power as much and as rapidly as the available resources will allow. Consultations with the Economic Co-operation Administration are taking place, but even if it were possible for the Administration to give us any help the main burden of the programme must be met from our resources here.

Mr. Pickthorn

Is it not possible to give any kind of indication of what is meant by "as much and as rapidly"?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Last year 965 megawatts of new capacity were brought in. This year somewhere between 1,050 and 1,100 megawatts will be brought in. The highest before the war was 765 megawatts.

Sir Herbert Williams

Were any of these plants started before the British Electricity Authority came into being? How long does it take now between the decision to erect a power station and the time when it supplies current?

Mr. Noel-Baker

A large number were, of course, begun before B.E.A. came into being, but mainly by publicly-owned enterprises. Out of 60, all but three were by publicly-owned enterprises. I do not think that the delays are any longer now than they used to be. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] The procedures were laid down in an Act of 1909.

Mr. Bossom

How many plants were started by local authorities before nationalisation?

Mr. Noel-Baker

As I have said, out of 60 all but three.

Major Legge-Bourke

Were the figures the right hon. Gentleman has given for this year arrived at before the re-armament programme or after, and, if before, what alteration is to be expected in them?

Mr. Noel-Baker

They are the figures we hope to realise.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken note of the comment made by the Anglo-American Productivity Report on this very subject, calling attention to the very long time that it takes before even permission can be obtained to begin the work?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Yes, Sir. But in America they have a much less dense population than we have—[Laughter]—and their procedures are very much simpler. There are far fewer authorities to be consulted, and they do much more damage to amenity, in my opinion. As I said, the procedures were laid down by an Act of 1909, and I cannot change them.

Sir H. Williams

Is the higher density on the Government Front Bench?

Mr. Fernyhough

Can my right hon. Friend say how many power stations ought to have been completed before the war if the Opposition, when the Government, had done their job properly?

Mr. Speaker

We are dealing with production for the future and not with what happened in the past.

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