HC Deb 26 January 1977 vol 924 c639W
Mr. Forman

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what would be the effect by 1980 and 1985, respectively, on the estimated annual demand for energy of a change of 1 per cent. a year in either direction, in the assumed rate of national economic expansion in terms of millions of tons of coal equivalent.

Dr. J. Dickson Mabon

The effect of a change in the rate of national economic expansion on the primary demand for energy depends on how such a change is assumed to take place.

Based on certain assumptions about the composition of the change in GDP, it has been estimated that a change of 1 per cent. a year in the assumed rate of economic growth could result in a change in the primary demand for energy of the order of 20 million tons coal equivalent in 1980 and 40 million tons coal equivalent in 1985.