§ 17. Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the percentage of electricity generated by the Central Electricity Generating Board from coal on a fuel used basis for the last month for which figures are available and the comparative figure for the same month a year previously.
§ Mr. GoodladThe latest published statistics are for the month of December. They show that, on a fuel used basis, 36 per cent. of the electricity produced by the Central Electricity Generating Board in December was derived from coal compared to 82 per cent. in December 1983.
§ Mr. PikeI thank the Minister for those figures. Will he assure everybody that the cost of additional generation for electricity from oil will not be passed on to consumers, and that the Government will not blame the miners and pass any burden from the CEGB to the consumers? Will the Government accept their responsibility and bear the additional cost?
§ Mr. GoodladI note the hon. Gentleman's view. As he will be aware, no decision on how the extra costs will be met has yet been taken.