§ 31. Mr. Doigasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the annual cost to the Government of compensating the electricity boards and the Scottish Gas Board for using coal-fired instead of oil-fired stations; and for how long he plans to continue these payments.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonPayments to the Scottish electricity boards between September, 1967, and July, 1968, amounted to £1,031,671. Amounts will vary from year to year according to electricity load requirements, fuel prices and other factors. Under the Coal Industry Act, 1967, payments may be made until 1st April 1971, but the need for them is kept under review.
Payments to the Scottish Gas Board are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power.
§ Mr. DoigWill my hon. Friend consider giving some form of compensation to other people who lose because of this as he is prepared in this case to compensate electricity and gas boards? Will he consider compensation to people such as river pilots and the harbour board, which has lost £92,000 in revenue in the last year because of the reduction in use of our ports?
§ Dr. MabonI shall consider those points. I shall be grateful if my hon. Friend will write to me about some of the more detailed aspects of his supplementary question.