HC Deb 16 February 1976 vol 905 cc926-7
9. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the volume of electricity produced by the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1975 and in 1973 and the proportion produced in both years from coal-fired and from oil-fired power stations.

Mr. Eadie

In the calendar year ending 31st December 1973, the CEGB supplied approximately 209 Terawatt-hours of electricity, of which approximately 65 per cent. was generated from coal and 24 per cent. was generated from oil.

In the calendar year ending 31st December 1975, the CEGB supplied approximately 204 Terawatt-hours of electricity, of which approximately 66 per cent was generated from coal and 20 per cent. was generated from oil.

Mr. Hardy

That information is very welcome. Since you will allow me to ask only one supplementary question, Mr. Speaker, and as it is imperative that hon. Members opposite, who are extremely ill-informed on these matters, are properly educated, may I ask my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to publish in the Official Report a definition of "Terawatt"?

Mr. Eadie

I shall certainly comply with my hon. Friend's request.

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

Will not my hon. Friend agree that although this 1 per cent. move is very welcome, it is essential for the future of a balanced energy policy in this country that more and more electricity generation should be based on coal, or on coal associated with nuclear fuels, so that our oil resources could be used in other directions?

Mr. Eadie

I have given answers to similar questions. I could not agree more with my hon. Friend. We have always said that we must make the best available use of our indigenous resources, and coal is an indigenous resource.