HC Deb 17 July 1974 vol 877 cc141-2W
Mr. Adam Butler

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are his approximate estimates for the use of coal for

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
Diving fatalities:—
Reported under the Factories Act 1961 1 1 1 1
Reported under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 1 1 1 2

Fatalities not required to be reported include those arising from pipelaying operation outside territorial waters.

Questions of the adequacy of diving regulations made under the Factories Act

electricity generation in or about 1985; and what would be the coal equivalent figures for each of the other main sources of energy, namely, oil, gas and nuclear, at that time.

Mr. Eadie

Bearing in mind the uncertainties of the current energy situation, particularly in respect of the availability, security and cost of individual fuels, I feel that it would be misleading to give forecasts of future coal requirements for electricity generation and future requirements of the other main sources of energy.

Mr. MacFarlane

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much coal he estimates will be required by the Central Electricity Generating Board in the year 1974–75 and 1975–76.

Mr. Eadie

Even relatively short-term estimates of the CEGB's requirements for particular fuels are subject to considerable uncertainty because of fluctuations in market conditions, electricity demand and plant availability. However, my Department estimates that the coal burn by the CEGB will be broadly about 65 million-70 million tons in 1974–75 and slightly higher in 1975–76.

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