§ 33. Sir A. Gridleyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent a cut has been made of additional generating plant capacity originally intended to become available to meet the anticipated load in the years 1950, 1951 and 1952; whether the cut has the approval of the Central Electricity Board and the Electricity Commissioners; and to what extent, if the cut is insisted upon, the shortage of generating plant capacity will continue for the next five years, having regard to the best estimates made of future demands.
§ Mr. GaitskellI must ask the hon. Member to await the White Paper on the Capital Investment Programme, which is to be published in the next few days.
§ Mr. Byersasked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent he has surveyed the potential sources of water power in this country and what estimate he has made of costs and potential output.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe generating capacity now in course of development from water power is 400,000 kilowatts. The estimated cost of construction is £19 million and the estimated average annual output is 802 million units. Additional capacity estimated at 400,000 kilowatts has been surveyed but is not yet being developed. Estimates in respect of 308,000 kilowatts of this show a construction cost of £15.5 million (at 1944 prices) and an average annual output of 520 million units. It is estimated that the Severn Barrage Scheme would cost £47 million (at 1944 prices) and would provide an average annual output of over 2,000 million units. For a general 301W appraisal of the position I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in my Third Reading speech on the Electricity Bill. [OFFICIAL REPORT of 30th June, 1947, Cols. 972–3.]