HL Deb 16 July 1957 vol 204 cc1140-2

2.39 p.m.

LORD BRAYE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it would not be wise, in the interest of national economy, to make a halt on the costly super-grid project in England and Wales until such time as investigation could reveal whether its use would justify the expense, in view of the now rapid development of small nuclear power stations which may possibly be erected in a short time close to the districts in which power is needed, and thus possibly render the super-grid projects, such as the Donnington-Iver super-grid and others, which were planned over ten years ago, obsolete before construction.]

THE MINISTER OF POWER (LORD MILLS)

My Lords, the Government are advised that the generation in small nuclear power stations of the electricity required in this country is unlikely to prove economic within the near future. Indeed, technological progress is making it economic to produce increasingly large quantities of electricity in each generating unit. It will, therefore, remain necessary to transport large blocks of power over considerable distances by means of a super-grid system. As noble Lords are aware, however, one of the purposes for which the super-grid was originally designed was to transport power from generating stations on the coalfields, particularly the East Midlands, to consuming areas in other parts of the country. The advent of nuclear power has made it possible to site power stations in consuming areas away from the coalfields and has therefore made necessary alterations in the lay-out of the super-grid. I understand, however, from the Central Electricity Authority that these changes will not affect the need for a line from Donning ton to Iver.

LORD BRAYE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord, as a supplementary question, why work has already been suspended on one super-grid?

LORD MILLS

My Lords, I think the answer is obvious: it is because the advent of nuclear power has necessitated a re-examination of the lines of the super-grid. The suspension of the line to which the noble Lord refers arises from that cause.

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, would the noble Lord not agree with me that the present public concern over Government expenditure on projects which are abandoned after considerable money has been spent is worthy of his most serious consideration? Is he further aware that the 275 kilovolt grid that was started to be built from Fleet, in Hampshire, to Drakelow, in Derbyshire has been abandoned and that the cost already incurred has been considerable? Would he give the House the assurance that he is ever vigilant that public money is not wasted on redundant schemes?

LORD MILLS

My Lords, in answer to the noble Lord, I would say that it is quite evident that the changes in the generation of power which have been occurring have necessitated re-examination of the lines of the super-grid. I suggest to the noble Lord that it is much more economic to face facts and to do away with a line, rather than carry on a line which should not now be erected or completed. I can give the noble Lord every assurance that this matter has my constant care and attention. It is essential, in providing the electricity which the country needs, that every economy should be exercised in the distributive system.

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

Would the noble Lord permit me to ask him one further question? Has the siting of the projected atomic power stations had any regard to the erection of the 275 kilovolt super-grid, or will there have to be another super-grid to fit the siting of the atomic power stations?

LORD MILLS

My Lords, I thought I made it clear in my Answer that it was necessary in certain respects to alter the original siting of the super-grid. It will be necessary to provide connections from the atomic power stations to the super-grid at convenient points. The general location of the super-grid as originally determined has been varied because of the changes which have occurred.

LORD LAWSON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether there has been any serious examination of the possibility of undergrounding wires in respect of the super-grid?

LORD MILLS

In answer to the noble Lord, Lord Lawson, may I say that I have explained in your Lordships' House before that, except in very exceptional circumstances, the undergrounding of cables is not a practicable proposition. I gave your Lordships an idea of the cost. The cost of an overhead line is about £20,000 a mile, and the cost of undergrounding is about £300,000 a mile. Even then, as a result of undergrounding, there are losses which are very considerable. It is not a practicable proposition at present to substitute underground for overhead lines.

LORD LAWSON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether those costs are based upon the use of bull-dozing for undergrounding or on ordinary manpower?

LORD MILLS

My Lords, the matter goes very much further than that simple statement. Considerable losses of electricity occur by reason of undergrounding; there has to be boosting by means of stations. That adds to the cost and makes it quite prohibitive to substitute underground for overhead lines, except in very exceptional circumstances