§ 111. Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Minister of Power what information he has received as to the growth rates of iron and steel production, which were assumed in forecasts of industrial sales of electricity, made by the Electricity Council in May, 1963, and subsequently in May, 1966; to what extent differences in these growth rates have affected his estimate of the balance between estimated growth rates of electricity sales to domestic and industrial consumers, respectively, up to 1970.
§ Mr. FreesonFor its forecast in 1963 the Electricity Council took into account the N.E.D.C. target growth for iron and steel of 5.5 per cent. per annum in 1966 and for their 1966 forecast the National Plan's figure of 3.2 per cent. per annum in 1970.
A reduction of this order in the growth rate of the iron and steel industry would in itself result in a reduction of less than ½ per cent. per annum in sales of electricity to industry, but there are many other factors affecting the balance between industrial and domestic consumption.