§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assumptions have been made as to the cost of generating electricity by nuclear power and coal respectively; and if he will publish for each year since 1962 the average cost of electricity produced by such stations compared with the average cost of base-load coal-fired stations.
§ Mr. EggarThe comparable capital and full fuel costs per kilowatt hour of power stations using different fuels depend significantly upon the contractual terms of fuel purchase, and the contractual terms under which the power station is constructed and operated. These are commercial matters for the companies concerned. Figures for the average cost of generating electricity by nuclear power and coal for each year since 1962 are therefore not available. Nuclear Electric has published the operating costs of its stations since 1989–90 in its annual report.