HC Deb 22 February 1955 vol 537 cc144-5W
Mr. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the capital cost per kilowatt installed, £/kwI, in respect of all hydro-electric works completed by the North of Scotland Board since 1945; the estimated cost on the same basis for works in course of construction; and the comparative cost per kilowatt installed, £/kwI, for new steam stations exceeding 50,000 kwI., put into commission since 1950.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

The average cost per kilowatt installed of all the Board's hydro-electric schemes completed since 1945 is £114. The average cost per kilowatt installed of schemes under construction is, on the basis of estimates published with the constructional schemes, £126; this figure will be considerably exceeded, as a result of subsequent rises in costs, before the schemes are completed. The average cost per kilowatt installed of new steam stations exceeding 50,000 kilowatts put into commission since 1950 is approximately £60.

Mr. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state in convenient form the aggregate output of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board for the year 1954; what part of such output was consumed in the Highlands, and what part of the output was transmitted elsewhere; and the average load factor achieved by the water power establishments of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board during the year 1954.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

The Board tell me that their aggregate output for the year 1954 (from hydro-electric, steam and diesel stations) was 1,566 million units. Of this 1,176 million units were used in the Board's district and 390 million units were exported to the South of Scotland. The average load factor achieved by their water power establishments in 1954 was 32 per cent.

Mr. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total electricity requirements of the Highlands, and the aggregate maximum demand of all domestic and industrial needs excluding electric rail traction and excluding current transmitted to the area of the South of Scotland Board; and what part, expressed as both percentage and amount, of the aggregate maximum demand of the Highlands is at present being supplied by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board from all its generation resources.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

In 1954 the maximum demand for electricity in the North of Scotland district was 314,000 kw., the whole of which was met by the Board from their own resources. The Board expect this demand, which is more than double that for 1947, to increase up to threefold in the next ten years.