§ 12. Mr. Palmerasked the Minister of Power if, in view of the recommendation of the National Board for Prices and Incomes, he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the Central Electricity Generating Board, that rates of depreciation for oil-fired power stations should be calculated more severely in view of possible premature obsolescence should large quantities of natural gas become available from the North Sea.
§ Mr. Frederick LeeNo, Sir. It is too early yet to assess the implications of discoveries of natural gas, but these would have to be very large to affect the economic life of power stations using other fuels.
§ Mr. PalmerWill my right hon. Friend remember that in all these calculations concerning the future of fuel and power it is important that every factor, favourable and unfavourable, should be taken into account?
§ Mr. LeeIndeed I do. For example, the conversion of boilers from oil to gas firing would not be difficult or expensive. The point made by my hon. Friend is very much in our minds.