§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his calculation of United Kingdom electricity consumption in each of the next five years; and if he will give his estimate of the generating capacities that will be available from(a) oil, (b) gas, (c) nuclear, (d) coal and (e) renewable sources.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryMy Department does not routinely forecast electricity consumption. That, and decisions on capacity and fuel choice, are the job of the electricity industry, taking into account the commercial and regulatory environment. When specific needs arise, projections are produced, as, for example, in the UK's submission to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was published as energy paper 58 and is available in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects nuclear fusion to be commercially viable for the generation of electricity.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryNuclear fusion is unlikely to be available as an energy source before 2050 at the earliest. Even if fusion were technically available at that date, its economic prospects are uncertain.