§ 1. Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the increase in nuclear generating capacity since 1975.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Norman Lamont)Since 1975 the CEGB has commissioned the AGR station at Hinkley Point at an interim capacity of 800 megawatts. Power stations in Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Mr. KnoxBy how much does my hon. Friend expect our nuclear capacity to increase over the next five years and how will that increase compare with progress in other EEC countries?
§ Mr. LamontI cannot give a precise figure for the next five years. For the moment, our nuclear capacity provides almost 13 per cent. of electricity supplied. When the AGRs at present under construction come on stream that proportion will, I think, increase to almost 20 per cent. By the year 2000 when the Government's programme of a station per year from 1982 onwards has been completed, the proportion of electricity supplied might be nearer 30 per cent.
In comparison with other countries, on the evidence of present trends, a much smaller proportion of our electricity will be supplied by nuclear power in the year 2000 than is the case in other countries. France and Japan will have a higher proportion in the year 1985 than we shall have in the year 2000.
§ Mr. PalmerWill the hon. Gentleman say whether those figures represent available capacity or rated capacity? It is important that the House gets it right.
§ Mr. LamontThe figures that I quoted were for electricity supplied.