§ 15. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Power the coal equivalent of oil burned at power stations in 1958; the 851 estimate for 1959; and how his policy of oil to coal will affect matters in each of the years 1960 and 1961.
§ Mr. GeorgeThe coal equivalent of the oil burned at Central Electricity Generating Board power stations in 1958 was approximately 4 million tons. The estimate for 1959 is 7 million tons. I would prefer not to offer an estimate for later years until the current discussions between the Generating Board and the oil companies are concluded.
§ Mr. NabarroAs we are mining 7 million tons of coal this year—both opencast and deep-mined—and putting it into stock at a huge cost to the nation, would not it be more realistic to cancel all the power station oil contracts outright and pay compensation, all of which would be much cheaper than mining next year a further 7 million tons of coal and putting it into stock? Cannot we have some realistic plans in these important matters?
§ Mr. GeorgeI am afraid that the hon. Member has overlooked the estimate made by the National Coal Board that all opencast coal mined next year will be sold. With regard to the change-over from oil to coal at the power stations, I have said, and I would not wish to go beyond that statement, that negotiations are now proceeding and I would prefer to say nothing more in case they are prejudiced in any way.
§ Mr. HoltIn view of the fact that these experts who have been making these forecasts have nearly always been wrong before—
§ Mr. NabarroThey have always been wrong.
§ Mr. Holt—will the Parliamentary Secretary have another look at this and get advice from some other experts?
§ Mr. NabarroIncluding me.
§ Mr. GeorgeAn expert who has been wrong is a better estimator thereafter.
§ Mr. NabarroHas my hon. Friend observed that I have consistently been right in these matters? A study of what I have said in this House in the past will bear me out. Will the Parliamentary Secretary bring these negotiations to an early conclusion? Is he aware that his predecessor but one told me two years 852 ago that the same negotiations were going on about burning oil at power stations? Surely we can expect some finality soon?
§ Mr. GeorgeI hope for some finality soon, but these are delicate negotiations and the less said the better.