§ 9. Mr. David Stoddartasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the total installed generating capacity of the Central Electricity Generating Board on 30th November, 1972, and the percentage available to meet demand.
§ The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Peter Walker)The total installed output capacity was 55,130 MW; and 41,540 MW or 75.3 per cent. was available on that day to meet the peak demand of 37,265 MW.
§ Mr. StoddartIs the Secretary of State aware that those figures reveal a very serious situation? If we have a very hard winter, it could well be that we shall have a third power crisis upon us. The right hon. Gentleman must be aware of the difficulties with nuclear energy and with the 500 MW sets which have been installed, which have not by any means reached the capacity they should. Does he agree that this is a disturbing situation, and will he keep a very careful watch on the position throughout the winter?
§ Mr. WalkerYes, Sir.
§ Mr. PalmerShould not the right hon. Gentleman and the Central Electricity Generating Board take the country into their confidence? The CEGB official 888 figures show that even under favourable conditions there is a plant margin of only just over 2½ per cent. and under severe weather conditions there is a large deficit. There should be, on paper, a margin of between 17 per cent. and 20 per cent.
§ Mr. WalkerThe CEGB is confident that during peak winter demand it expects to have about 80 per cent. availability which, if that is so, should meet any normal peak demand.
§ Mr. BennWill the right hon. Gentleman give the House the figures broken down by different types of generating plant, so that we may know where the failure is?
§ Mr. WalkerIf the right hon. Gentleman would like to table a Question about that, I shall certainly see that that is done.
§ 38. Mr. Palmerasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that sufficient generating plant will be available on the system of the Central Electricity Generating Board to meet the estimated maximum demand this winter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EmeryI am advised by the Chairman of the CEGB that, with the continued co-operation of all staff, he hopes to have sufficient generating plant available to meet the estimated maximum demand this winter.
§ Mr. PalmerDo not the hon. Gentleman's reply and the earlier reply of the Secretary of State show a remarkable complacency about a very serious situation? Will the hon. Gentleman allow me to send him the actual figures of plant capacity, because they will add to his store of information?
§ Mr. EmeryThere is nothing complacent about my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. May I give the hon. Gentleman the most recent information, which is dated 30th November? It gives the CEGB output capacity as 55,130 megawatts and the latest CEGB estimate of maximum demand this winter in average cold spell weather is 42,900 megawatts. The required availability would thus be 78 per cent. and with late maintenance coming on flow it is estimated to be 75 per cent. There is nothing complacent about that.
§ Mr. David StoddartIs the hon. Gentleman aware that his reply to the supplementary question of my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Palmer) shows just how complacent he is, because the figures given to me earlier today by the Secretary of State reveal a more serious situation in the electricity supply industry than many of us had realised? Will the hon. Gentleman get off his complacent backside and have fresh conversations with the CEGB to ensure that it has the necessary plant capacity? I assure him that the electricity supply situation is balanced on a knife edge, and I hope that lie will take that warning.
§ Mr. EmeryI merely underline the points which I have made. My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and myself are frequently in consultation with the CEGB and the degree of capacity to which I referred in my reply is considerably more than was available during most of the Labour Government's period of office.
§ Mr. BennWill the hon. Gentleman confirm in simple language that as far as the Government are concerned there is no risk of power cuts this winter?
§ Mr. EmeryAs the right hon. Gentleman knows, it is quite impossible to answer that question. It depends on the labour position. It also depends on the breakdown position, about which nobody knows anything. I am surprised that the right hon. Gentleman should try to get away with that sort of question.
§ Mr. RidleyDoes my hon. Friend agree that, if the position is balanced rather finely this winter, the blame should be laid at the door of those who administered the investment programme for the industry seven years ago?
§ Mr. EmeryI thank my hon. Friend for that question, to which the answer is, of course, "Yes, Sir".