HC Deb 05 November 1968 vol 772 cc671-2
11. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine

asked the Minister of Power what discussions he has had with the Electricity Council with regard to increasing the level of its appropriation for research, particularly into the possibilities of placing 132 and 225 kilovolts cables underground.

Mr. Freeson

My right hon. Friend will shortly discuss with the Chairman of the Electricity Council their general programme of research, but we believe they have the right order of expenditure on underground cables generally and on high voltage in particular.

Mr. Godman Irvine

Would the Parliamentary Secretary tell us any other organisation which is trying to keep abreast of a technological field and which spends less than 1 per cent. of its annual revenue on research? Now, with a substantial profit, is this not the moment to reconsider it?

Mr. Freeson

It would be more correct to consider the actual figures. I understand that approximately £300,000 is spent specifically on underground cables and that a substantial part of the £700,000 which is being spent on high voltage direct current transmission and superconductivity is also related to undergrounding.

Mr. Hall

Would the hon. Gentleman not look again at the amount of research devoted to the particular problem of placing cables underground, before the countryside becomes irretrievably ruined by the mass of pylons and overhead wires?

Mr. Freeson

I, and doubtless other hon. Members, would appreciate it if a little less colourful phraseology were used. I have no doubt—I am as concerned as anyone here about the countryside—about the responsible attitude which the C.E.G.B. seeks to take. The last complete year's figures available show that about £6 million was spent on amenity in addition to commercial costs by the Board.