South of Scotland Electricity Board

HC Deb 28 July 1983 vol 46 cc608-10W

Mrs. McCurley

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the response of the South of Scotland Electricity Board to the recommendations contained in the efficiency audit of that board's activities by Cooper and Lybrand Associates; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Younger

I have now considered the response of the South of Scotland Electricity Board to the efficiency audit by the management consulting firm of Cooper and Lybrand Associates. A copy of the board's response has been placed in the Library.

The consultants were asked to consider whether SSEB could economically improve its performance in a number of key areas: namely, management information, control of the generating system, fuel purchasing, and the planning and appraisal of new investment. The consultants overall conclusion was that SSEB's activities were generally well organised and performed to a good standard. Nevertheless, they make a number of recommendations aimed at further improving the board's performance.

In its response the SSEB has indicated its acceptance of most of these recommendations and has already taken steps to implement many of them. In the case of others, the board is re-examining its existing procedures with a view to incorporating the consultants' suggestions where appropriate.

Some of the recommendations touch upon the board's relationship with other public bodies, including the National Coal Board, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., the Central Electricity Generating Board and British Rail. In particular, the report referred to the arrangements for the purchase of coal and the supply of nuclear fuel from NCB and BNFL respectively. These arrangements are urrently the subject of discussion between SSEB and these industries. SSEB is also discussing with CEGB the scope for improving arrangements for power transfer between the two boards and the Government will wish to be satisified that national generating capacity is being used as efficiently as possible.

In general the board has responded positively to the consultants recommendations and I know that it is its intention to secure the maximum benefit from the considerable amount of work which went into compiling the efficiency audit report. Nevertheless, there are a number of recommendations which the board felt unable to accept in their entirety. My Department will be having further discussions with the board on these and other topics arising from the report.

Since the report and the board's response were reduced, I have agreed a financial target and performance aims for SSEB, together with a set of policy objectives for the

Local authority	No. of sheltered units at 31.3.82	Population of pensionable age* (thousand)
			Projected population (1979 based)
		Estimate at 30.6.82	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
Berwickshire	97	4.1	3.8	3.8	3.8	3.8	3.7	3.7	3.7	3.6	3.6
Ettrick and Lauderdale	87	7.0	6.9	6.9	6.9	6.9	7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	6.9
Roxburgh	67	7.4	7.2	7.1	7.1	7.1	7.1	7.0	6.9	6.9	6.8
Tweedale	42	3.2	3.0	2.9	2.9	2.9	2.8	2.8	2.8	2.7	2.7
Clackmannan	147	7.1	6.9	6.9	7.0	7.1	7.1	7.2	7.2	7.2	7.3
Falkirk	147	23.2	23.0	23.1	23.2	23.5	23.8	24.0	24.1	24.2	24.4
Stirling	369	13.1	12.5	12.4	12.4	12.5	12.6	12.6	12.6	12.6	12.6
Annendale and Eskdale	51	6.9	6.6	6.6	6.7	6.8	6.8	6.9	7.0	7.0	7.1
Nithsdale	46	10.1	9.8	9.8	9.8	9.9	10.0	10.1	10.1	10.3	10.3
Stewartry	41	5.1	4.5	4.4	4.4	4.4	4.4	4.4	4.4	4.4	4.4
Wigtown	5	5.5	5.2	5.2	5.1	5.2	5.2	5.2	5.2	5.2	5.2
Dunfermline	171	19.2	19.5	19.6	19.8	20.1	20.4	20.5	20.7	20.8	20.9
Kirkcaldy	171	25.0	24.2	24.4	24.5	24.9	25.2	25.4	25.6	25.8	25.9
North East Fife	202	13.9	13.1	13.0	12.9	12.9	12.8	12.7	12.7	12.6	12.5
City of Aberdeen	777	37.3	38.1	38.0	37.9	38.1	38.2	38.2	38.1	38.0	38.0
Banff and Buchan	195	13.5	12.9	12.9	12.8	12.9	12.9	12.9	12.9	12.9	12.8
Gordon	150	9.2	9.2	9.2	9.2	9.3	9.3	9.4	9.4	9.5	9.6
Kincardine and Deeside	118	7.1	6.7	6.7	6.6	6.6	6.6	6.6	6.6	6.6	6.6
Moray	177	13.8	12.2	12.1	11.9	11.9	11.9	11.9	11.9	11.9	11.8
Badenoch and Strathspey	41	1.9	1.7	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.6
Caithness	107	4.3	3.9	3.9	3.9	3.9	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Inverness	129	8.9	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.6	8.7	8.8	8.9	8.9	9.0
Lochaber	10	2.9	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.1
Nairn	52	1.9	1.7	1.7	1.7	1.7	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.6
Ross and Cromarty	90	7.1	6.3	6.3	6.2	6.3	6.3	6.3	6.4	6.4	6.4
Skye and Lochalsh	24	2.3	2.0	1.9	1.9	1.9	1.8	1.8	1.8	1.7	1.7
Sutherland	24	2.9	2.8	2.8	2.7	2.7	2.7	2.7	2.6	2.6	2.6
East Lothian	122	15.2	14.1	14.1	14.1	14.2	14.3	14.3	14.3	14.2	14.2
City of Edinburgh	1,336	86.1	87.8	87.2	86.7	86.6	86.6	86.3	85.9	85.5	85.0
Midlothian	22	11.1	11.0	11.1	11.3	11.5	11.7	11.9	12.1	12.1	12.3
West Lothian	206	16.6	15.5	15.6	15.8	16.1	16.4	16.6	16.9	17.1	17.3

board which I announced earlier this year. All of these reflect the importance which both the board and I place on improving the performance and efficiency of the electricity supply industry in Scotland. I know the board will continue to make every effort to implement the consultants recommendations and improve the performance wherever possible. I have therefore asked SSEB to report to me on the progress made in implementing these recommendations before the end of 1984 at which time I will consider with the board what further action, if any, is necessary.