§ Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of piping and conversions involving use of North Sea gas in Scotland.
§ Mr. FreesonI have been asked to reply. The capital cost of conversion of consumers' appliances and associated work on the distribution system is currently estimated at about £30 million. The initial extension of the transmission system to Scotland is expected to cost about £16 million. This figure does not include the cost of subsequent reinforcement of the transmission main nor of the additional capacity that must be provided elsewhere in the transmission system to meet the demand in Scotland.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Minister of Power (1) which areas in Wales he expects to be served by North Sea gas by 1970;
(2) what percentage of the population of Wales will have North Sea gas made available to it by 1970.
§ Mr. FreesonThe present programme of the Wales Gas Board for gas supply is based on the receipt of North Sea gas in North Wales by 1969 and in South 11W Wales by 1970. The gas will first be used as a feedstock to make town gas and for direct supply to new industrial consumers located near the North Sea gas transmission lines. A phased programme of conversion of consumers' appliances is planned to begin in 1969 and it is hoped that by 1970 nearly 10 per cent. of existing gas consumers may be receiving direct supplies of North Sea gas.