§ 115. Mr. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state the aggregate installed capacity, kw. I., of the power establishments of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board at 30th November, 1955; how much kw. I. of this aggregate represented water-power facilities; how much kw. I. oil-power facilities; and how much kw. I. coal-fired stations.
§ Mr. J. StuartI am informed by the Board that the installed capacity of their generating plant at 30th November, 1955, was as follows:
kws. Hydro-Electric Plant … 479,000 Diesel Plant … 43,300 Steam Plant (coal fired) … 103,000 Aggregate Capacity … 625,300
§ 114. Mr. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in consideration of expenditure of £117,300,000 on capital account by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, to end October, 1955, and a further £62,350,000 committed in respect of unfinished projects, and £2,155,000 for sanctioned schemes not yet commenced, a total of £181,805,000, and the fact that schemes under construction will ultimately cost greatly more than the sanctioned sums, whether he will consider introducing legislation to deal with the statutory borrowing limit of £200 million imposed on the Board; and whether he will now make a statement as to future Government policy.
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§ Mr. J. StuartThere is no immediate need to increase the borrowing limit of £200 million.
§ 116. Mr. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken to establish potential water-power resources in the area of Loch Awe and the Pass of Brander; and what would be the cost of harnessing them, and the installed capacity of power that might be expected.
§ Mr. J. StuartI am informed by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board that it has made surveys in the Loch Awe area for both a conventional hydroelectric project with an installed capacity of about 75,000 kilowatts, and a pumped80W storage project with an installed capacity of about 350,000 kilowatts. The Board has not yet, however, submitted to me a constructional scheme giving estimates of the cost.