HC Deb 20 February 1963 vol 672 cc441-2
36. Mrs. Hart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a general direction to the South of Scotland Electricity Board to revise its estimates of probable power needs in the next 10 years in terms of the consequences of a more rapid rate of economic growth in Scotland.

Mr. Leburn

There is no need for my right hon. Friend to give such a direction, because he is assured that the Board will shortly be revising its estimates in the light of this winter's experience and will take account of all relevant factors.

Mrs. Hart

Is the Under-Secretary aware that there is much more to this than merely taking account of this winter's weather? Is he aware that the South of Scotland Electricity Board estimates that for the next 10 years—as it appeared in the Report of the Mackenzie Committee—they reckon to just about double the supply of electricity in Scotland before 1971? This is about the same rate achieved in England and Wales in the last 10 years, which corresponds to a rate of economic growth of between 1 and 3½ per cent. In fact, if Scotland is to have a 5 to 6 per cent. rate of economic growth, we must have much more electricity than that.

Mr. Leburn

One purpose of the review of load estimates which the Board will be making is to answer the kind of questions which the hon. Lady has just asked.

Mr. Clark Hutchison

Can my hon. Friend say how much additional generat- ing capacity the South of Scotland Electricity Board is going to supply over the next few years?

Mr. Leburn

In the next six years additional generating capacity of 1,890 megawatts plus 400 megawatts of pump storage.

Mrs. Hart

Does the hon. Gentleman fully appreciate that according to the Report of the Mackenzie Committee the South of Scotland Electricity Board bases its estimates on reports which it receives from its area managers. These cannot take any account of general economic developments which it is the Secretary of State's responsibility to find out.

Mr. Leburn

We can certainly take that matter into account, but since the hon. Lady has been quoting from the Mackenzie Report she should remember that the Mackenzie Committee was also satisfied that the procedures which the Board uses for its estimates were satisfactory.