§ 36. Mr. Ridleyasked the Minister of Power what was the margin of capacity 54W of the electricity industry over the maximum demand experienced last winter.
§ Mr. FreesonI would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him and the hon. Members for Bournemouth, West (Sir J. Eden) and Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) on 20th January, 13th February and 3rd March, respectively.—[Vol. 776, c.56; Vol. 777, c. 382; Vol. 779, 52.]
§ 37. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Power what is the output capacity of the Central Electricity Generating Board at the present time; and how this compares with 1963–64.
§ Mr. FreesonLast winter's experience adjusted to average cold spell conditions gives an estimated maximum demand on the C.E.G.B. of 37,600 MW as against an output capacity on 1st January, 1969, of 44,343 MW, a gross margin of 18 per cent. The corresponding figures for 1963–64 were 30,750 MW, 33,118 MW and 8 per cent. respectively.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Power what is the output capacity of the Central Electricity Generating Board at the present time; by how much this differs from the demand forecast for 1969–70; what will be the output capacity of the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1974–75; how much of the additional capacity is under construction; and how this capacity compares with demand predictions for this time.
§ Mr. FreesonThe present output capacity is about 44,500 MW. Estimated demand in average cold spell weather conditions in the winter of 1969–70 is 39,600 MW. Output capacity should be 66,000 MW in the winter of 1974–75, for which the forecast simultaneous maximum demand in average cold spell weather conditions is 53,000 MW. All of the additional capacity is under construction.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Power what was the margin of capacity of the electricity industry over the maximum demand experienced last winter compared with the position in 1963–64.
§ Mr. FreesonI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his similar Question earlier this afternoon.