§ Mr. Adam Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will initiate an inquiry into the reasons for the breakdown at Longannet Power Station; and if he will make a statement on the immediate position.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe South of Scotland Electricity Board, in consultation with its consulting engineers and the manufacturers, is urgently investigating faults which have developed in the turbines of three generating sets at Longannet Power Station. The Board expects two of the sets to be in service towards the end of the year and the third early in 1972.
The Board does not at present foresee any difficulty over supplies to electricity consumers. Discussions between the Board and the National Coal Board have led to arrangements, including coal stocking, which will leave mining output unaffected.
I am keeping in regular touch with the Board, and I do not consider that a separate inquiry is needed.