HC Deb 15 October 1975 vol 897 cc736-7W
Mrs. Colquhoun

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many redundancies there will be nationally as a result of the Central Electricity Generating Board's decision to close some of its power stations;

(2) before decisions by the CEGB to close power stations are taken, if he will publish in the Official Report a wide-ranging statement giving the Government's reasons for allowing workers in the industry to be made redundant;

(3) if he will make a statement about the national employment situation within the electricity industry; and what is the Government's policy in response to the proposals to make workers at power stations redundant at a time of high unemployment;

(4) how many workers will be made redundant nationally as the result of the recent CEGB decisions not to generate electricity from certain power stations.

Mr. Benn

Falling forecasts of electricity demand growth have caused the Central Electricity Generating Board to look at the capacity it is currently carrying. The question of possible power station closures in the financial year 1976–77 is currently under review in the electricity supply industry's National Joint Advisory Council. I intend shortly to discuss with the Chairman of the CEGB the general closure position, including the employment implications.