§ Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average thermal efficiency of British Electricity Authority power houses in 1952; and what directions he will give under Section 5 of the Electricity Act, 1947, to improve coal utilisation arrangements at power houses.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydI am informed by the British Electricity Authority that the average thermal efficiency of their generating plant in 1952 was 22.6per cent. This figure is based on returns for the months January-November and an estimate for December.
I do not propose to issue any general direction on this subject. It is clear from the regular annual improvement which has taken place that the British Electricity Authority are fully alive to the need to improve the thermal efficiency of their generating plant, and much of the development and research covered by the general programmes settled in consultation with me under Sections 5 (2) and 5 (3) of the Electricity Act, 1947, is directed towards this end.