§ 44. Mr. Albert Robertsasked the Minister of Power by what amount the average annual household bill for electricity has been affected by the Government's policy of requiring the Central Electricity Generating Board to use more coal than would have been justified on straight commercial grounds.
§ Mr. FreesonThe cost of the preference which the Central Electricity Generating Board gives coal in operating power stations is less than per cent. of the industry's total revenue from electricity sales. In addition the Board has deflected investment decisions in favour of coal, but it is not possible to put a figure to this.
§ 45. Mr. Albert Robertsasked the Minister of Power by what amount the average annual household bill for electricity has been affected by the costs of operating the present nuclear power stations, which would not have been justified on straight commercial grounds.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Central Electricity Generating Board estimate that when the first nuclear power programme is completed in 1969, the additional annual cost as compared with a programme of conventional power stations will be about 2 per cent. of the industry's total revenue from electricity sales.