§ Mr. McGuireasked the Minister of Power why, in a Press statement issued by his Department on 27th September quoting a Brookings Institution Report, no reference was made to the report's recommendation that the investment programme for electricity, especially nuclear generation, should be substantially reduced; and what is his policy with regard to this recommendation.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Press statement issued on 27th September mainly concerned the Report by the Economist Intelligence Unit and only mentioned those points in the Brooklings Institution Report which were relevant to that context. Investment in electricity generation is related to the estimated demand for electricity and is subject to the criteria set out for all nationalised industries in the 1967 White Paper "Nationalised Industries—A Review of Economic and Financial Objectives" (Cmnd. 3437). Decisions on new power stations are taken in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraph 98 of the Fuel Policy White Paper (Cmnd. 3438).