§ 18. Mr. Woofasked the Minister of Power if he will now made a statement on the prospects of British industry in the energy sector; and whether the progress in the development of nuclear power stations together with the increasing availability of power from North Sea gas supplies will result in cheaper sources of energy by the 1970s.
§ Mr. MarshCompetitively priced energy supply for British industry is a major consideration in the review of fuel policy. Progress in nuclear power technology and the North Sea gas discoveries are encouraging pointers, but I would hesitate at this stage to forecast price levels for the 1970's in view of the many and great uncertainties.
§ Mr. WoofWould not my right hon. Friend agree that everything adds up to intense competition with the need to achieve co-ordination by effective planning and direction of fuel and power resources? Would not he also agree that, in the review of the fuel policy, he should 209 so design things as to secure the maximum economic use of the nation's indigenous energy resources by providing a guarantee for coal production in order to maintain the structure of the mining industry and to avoid further disastrous contraction?
§ Mr. MarshI agree with the need to use our fuel resources in the best possible way. The only way to do this is to look at them altogether to see how they act and interact on each other, and this is precisely the job that we are trying to do in this fuel policy review.
Mr. Edward M. TaylorWill the right hon. Gentleman ensure that gas prices in Scotland in the 'seventies are above the average for the rest of the country, as they are just now?
§ Mr. MarshI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question. I cannot say what the price of gas in Scotland will be in the 'seventies, but I am sure that we can rely on him to raise the matter again if he is not satisfied.