12. Mr. John Mark Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the percentage contributions to the national grid of the various methods of electricity generation.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerIn 1986–87 conventional steam generation contributed just under 80 per cent. of the electricity supplied to the national grid in Great Britain. Nuclear power contributed just under 19 per cent. and the remainder was supplied by natural gas, gas turbines and hydro-electric generation.
Mr. TaylorI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. However, will he assure the House that it will continue to be the Government's policy for the nation to rely on multiple supplies of energy from different sources, so that no industry can ever be put to the hazard by political troublemakers at the expense of us all?
§ Mr. SpicerThe Government certainly intend that there should be a versatility and a variety of energy supplies in this country. We are very fortunate, because not only do we have fossil fuels, but we are one of the leading countries in the world in nuclear energy.