§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have calculated the additional costs of electricity generation in consequence of the decision of the Central Electricity Generating Board to increase the level of oil burning in power generation; and whether it is their intention to adjust the external financing limit during the financial year 1984–85 to ensure that any additional costs resulting from extra oil burning are not borne directly by the electricity consumer.
§ The Earl of Avonthe extra cost will depend on the duration of oil burn. It is too early to say what adjustments, if any, to the electricity supply industry's external financing limit will be necessary arising from the present dispute in the coal industry.