§ Mr. Adam Butlerasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are his approximate estimates for the use of coal for electricity generation in 1974; what would be the coal equivalent figures for each of the other main sources of energy, namely, oil, gas and nuclear in that year; and what would be his estimates of consumption for each of the four main energy sources in each of the succeeding years up to and including 1980.
§ Mr. EadieForecasting both total fuel use for electricity generation and the consumption of individual fuels is subject to very great uncertainty. My Department estimates that the fuel consumption of the electricity industry in the United Kingdom will be about 120 million tons of coal equivalent in 1974–75:
Millions of tons of coal equivalent Coal 70–75 Oil 25–30 Nuclear 10–12 Hydro 2 Natural Gas 4 In 1975–76 the total energy consumption and the consumptions of coal and nuclear energy are expected to be somewhat higher. For later years I believe that the uncertainty is such that estimates would be misleading.