§ Mr. Alex Eadieasked the Minister of Power, what were the estimated generating and running costs of the coal-fired plant he took as the basis for comparison for the figure of an annual saving of £30 million in the mid-1970s from an 335W 8,000 megawatt programme of nuclear power stations; and what amendment he now proposes to make to his estimate of the costs of nuclear power stations.
§ Mr. MarshMy estimate of the saving took into account the effect on the whole system, in the case both of coal-fired plant and nuclear. Thus it comprised a whole range of different generating and running costs. As I explained to my hon. Friend on 12th December [Vol. 756, c.79], the estimate was based on the present average cost of coal, which is given in Appendix III of the Fuel Policy White Paper as 5d. a therm. To the extent that the price of coal is reduced, the saving from nuclear power would, of course, be correspondingly affected. My estimates of costs of nuclear power stations remain as quoted in answers to recent Questions.