HL Deb 21 March 1974 vol 350 cc509-10WA
LORD AVEBURY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish a table showing the estimated maximum simultaneous demand on the C.E.G.B. system in each of the years from 1974 to 1990, and the output capacity of the plant required to be in commission in each of those years to meet those estimates.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (LORD BALOGH)

the forecasts of simultaneous maximum demand to 1978–79 adopted by the Electricity Council in March, 1973, were published on pages 11 and 12 of the Council's Annual Report for 1972–73. The industry is reviewing those figures. The C.E.G.B.'s corresponding construction programme to the end of 1977 was published as Appendix 4 to Vol. 1 of the Board's Annual Report and Accounts 1972–73.

The Council's annual forecasts look forward six years. The assumptions involved in longer-term forecasts are subject to great uncertainty and it would be misleading to publish any single set of forecasts.

House adjourned at ten minutes before ten o'clock.