§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will review the monopoly powers of the Central Electricity Generating Board with a view to 583W allowing wider private generation of electricity.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe CEGB does not have a monopoly for generating and supplying electricity. It is open to any person in England and Wales to construct a generating station to produce electricity solely or mainly for his own purposes, provided that the necessary planning permission is obtained and regulations are complied with. If electricity for supply to others is to form a more substantial proportion of the station's output the Secretary of State's consent to construct is required. However, no one other than the generating board or an area electricity board may start to supply or distribute electricity to consumers as his main business.
This is among many matters being examined by the Government in the context of nationalised industry policy.