§ 3.10 p.m.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Erroll of Hale, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in his name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement about the plans for new electricity generating stations, and their associated transmission networks, required to supply the growing needs of the Greater London Area.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY MINISTRY OF POWER (LORD LINDGREN)My Lords, the Central Electricity Generating Board have estimated that, allowing for the transmission lines into London already existing or planned, they will require three or four large new power stations in the London area in order to keep pace with the growing demand for electricity in the period up to the early 1980s. Finding sites for these power stations and routeing the necessary transmission lines will present very great difficulty. The Generating Board and the Greater London Council are in touch to see how best the Board's difficulties can be overcome, and my right honourable friend keeps in close 168 contact with the Board on this whole question.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his Answer. I wonder whether he can say by what date it will be necessary for the Central Electricity Generating Board to have these sites in order that London may be supplied with the necessary power?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, there are certain sites which are under discussion with the Greater London Council, one of which is within the ownership of the Central Electricity Generating Authority, but I could not give an exact date when the new station will definitely be required to come into production.