§ 54. Mr. Fitchasked the Paymaster-General, in view of the fact that relative costs for producing electricity from nuclear stations and coal-fired stations have been based on a 75 per cent. load factor for the nuclear stations, what would be the cost of electricity generated from the most efficient coal-fired power station working at the same load factor.
§ Sir I. HorobinI would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester, South (Mr. Corfield), and others, on 15th June.
§ Sir A. Bossomasked the Paymaster-General, in view of the need for power stations, nuclear or otherwise, and the importance of preserving areas of natural beauty for present and future generations and to encourage visitors from other countries, what provisions exist in his Department to enable these two considerations to be fulfilled without the controversies and delays that now take place when 6W the erection of a power station is proposed.
§ Sir I. HorobinBoth the Central Electricity Generating Board in selecting possible sites, and my noble Friend in deciding whether or not to give his consent to them, are required by Statute to have regard, among other things, to the desirability of preserving natural beauty. Before giving his decision my noble Friend is also required to consider any objections that are made and in some circumstances to hold a public inquiry.
The proper consideration of all the interests involved must inevitably take time, and controversy naturally arises where the issues are finely balanced. Subject to this, I can assure my hon. Friend that every effort is made to reach decisions as quickly as possible.