HC Deb 13 July 1965 vol 716 cc262-3
11. Mr. Ridsdale

asked the Minister of Power what he estimates to be the social costs of Her Majesty's Government's present fuel policy.

Mr. Frederick Lee

In determining fuel policy the Government are taking into account the social and other costs of various alternatives, but these costs cannot be precisely quantified.

Mr. Ridsdale

Does not the Minister recall that I drew attention to an article in The Times which put the social costs at £600 million? Could he comment on that?

Mr. Lee

My comment would be that the author of that article wrote also that this £600 million was only aguess.

18. Mr. Norwood

asked the Minister of Power, whether he will give estimates for the year 1970 of the proportion of the total requirements for gas and electricity, respectively, which will be met from hydrocarbon-type primary sources, and the proportion of these requirements which will be met by the use of coal as a primary fuel.

Mr. Frederick Lee

These are matters which are being examined in my current review of fuel policy.

Mr. Norwood

Does that mean that the Minister is unable to give any indication at all of the likely basis of secondary generation either of gas or electricity from the two primary fuels about which I have asked?

Mr. Lee

It would be very wrong of me, in advance of the calculations which we are making, to try to anticipate the results which we will get.