§ Mr. Watsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he now believes that electricity consumption in the United Kingdom will increase by more than 1 per cent. per annum between 1980 and 2000.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe future growth of electricity demand will depend on many factors, including the rate of economic growth, the price of electricity and the price of competing fuels. Because of the uncertainties involved in these factors it would be unwise to adopt any single view of electricity demand growth for a period extending so far into the future. However, it is still reasonable to envisage energy demand scenarios in which electricity consumption in the United Kingdom increases at a rate greater than 1 per cent. p.a. between 1980 and 2000.