§ Mr. Swainasked the Minister of Power what proportion of the recent increase in electricity prices was due to delays in commissioning new plant; how much was due to higher coal prices; and how much to higher oil prices.
§ Mr. MarshIt is not possible to give a precise figure of the contribution from delays in fully commissioning new plant but it was substantial. The increase in coal prices added £30 million a year to costs of which about half had already been automatically recovered from consumers whose tariffs included a fuel cost adjustment clause. The tariff proposals were drawn up before the temporary surcharge arising out of the Middle East crisis but they did take account of the increase in the fuel oil tax in 1966 which added about £1 million a year to costs.