§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies have been carried out by his Department and the SSEB to gauge the competiveness of sources of energy for generation of electricity as a preliminary to authorisation of the SSEB's programme for nuclear power and provision of Government finance.
§ Mr. William RossThe planning of new generating capacity is undertaken jointly by the two Scottish electricity boards which consider the technical and financial merits of all available alternative methods of meeting the requirements ofg the Scottish system. The detailed report of their joint planning committee is submitted to me with the recommendation of the boards. In reaching a decision I take into account, in consultation with my colleagues, energy policy, any relevant social question and the economic and financial costs and benefits of the project.