§ 44. Mrs. Hartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a general direction, in the national interest, to the South of Scotland Electricity Board to pay particular regard to the recommendations of the National Economic Development Council, in so far as they concern the supply of electrical power necessary to maintain a higher rate of economic growth.
§ Mr. NobleNo. The Board assures me that it has already taken these recommendations into account in drawing up its development programme.
§ Mrs. Hartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a general direction in the national interest to the South of Scotland Electricity Board to take into account general long-term 105W national economic considerations when formulating its policy on whether future power stations should be oil-fired or coal-fired.
§ Mr. NobleNo. This would be inappropriate as the Board's duty is to provide electricity as economically as possible.