§ Mr. GRANVILLEasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the East Anglian Electric Supply Company, Limited, are unwilling to supply the smaller villages in Suffolk with electricity for economic reasons; and whether he will, in the public interest, make representations to the above company with a view to their supplying these villages and, in particular, Kelsale?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe Electricity Commissioners have recently discussed with the company the carrying out of further developments in villages in East Suffolk (including Kelsale), and at present await formal proposals from the company.
§ Captain RAMSAYasked the Minister of Transport whether he will give comparative figures of the costs of production of electrical power under any of the large hydro-electric schemes, and those of any of the recent schemes when anthracite or small coals are used?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe relative costs of production of electricity at hydroelectric and coal-fired stations depend mainly on the load factor at which the stations are operated; they cannot usefully be compared unless the conditions of operation, and the conditions under1532W which the electricity is used, are comparable. The capital cost of hydroelectric stations when fully developed is of the order of £30 to £40 per kilowatt installed, that of steam stations of the order of £14 to £18. The running cost (exclusive of overhead charges) of a hydro-electric station is about 0.025d. per unit; that of a modern steam station with coal at say 12s. per ton, about 0.1d. per unit.