HC Deb 30 June 1975 vol 894 cc1008-10
11. Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the average unit cost of electricity generated by oil-fired, coal-fired, hydro-electric and nuclear power stations, respectively.

Mr. Eadie

I understand from the Central Electricity Generating Board that for 1974–75 the average generation costs of Central Electricity Generating Board power stations commissioned in the last 12 years were as follows: 0.74p per kilowatt-hour at coal-fired stations, 0.88p per kilowatt-hour at oil-fired stations, 0.48p per kilowatt-hour at nuclear stations. These figures include interest and depreciation charges appropriate to 1974–75. The hydro-electric capacity of the CEGB is too small to provide a meaningful figure. The corresponding figures for the Scottish boards, which include a significant amount of hydro-electric generation, are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Mr. Canavan

Will my hon. Friend give an assurance to the coal miners of this country—particularly the miners of Stir! ingshire, who work on the Long Gannet project—that coal will be required as a fuel for generating electricity and for other purposes for many years to come, even after we become self-sufficient in oil, and even taking into account the planned development of nuclear power stations?

Mr. Eadie

Such an assurance was presented to the House in the coal industry examination. I certainly advise my hon. Friend to recommend it to any of his constituents who are in any doubt about the future role that coal will play in energy provision in this country.

Mr. Aitken

When answering an earlier Question on the Order Paper the Secretary of State spoke of the need for maximum openness in energy matters. On the question of costs will the Minister consider changing the practice whereby his Department refuses to answer parliamentary Questions requesting details of the uranium prices in Government contracts?

Mr. Eadie

I understand the question that has been put by the hon. Gentleman, but there is a certain amount of con- fusion in it, because this is a commercial matter. Indeed, one of his hon. Friends recently spoke about letting industry get on with its job without governmental interference. There is confusion on both sides of the House as to what is a commercial matter.

Dr. Bray

Will my hon. Friend confirm that the figure for nuclear power stations was 0.48p, which is markedly below that for oil-fired and gas-fired stations? Will he state whether that takes account of any revaluation of the assets of nuclear stations compared with coal-fired or oil-fired stations? Finally, is he able to give any more up-to-date figures in view of the changed pattern of both capital and operating costs in the current year?

Mr. Eadie

My hon. Friend has raised an issue about which there has been great controversy in this House over the last 10 years or so, to my knowledge. The figures that I gave were supplied by the CEGB. Matters about depreciation, costs, and so on are still controversial. However, I have given the best known figures available. No doubt my hon. Friend will want to study the reply that I have given, which is based on information from the CEGB.