HC Deb 05 June 1986 vol 98 c607W
Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those categories of questions on civil nuclear power and nuclear materials that are matters to be raised directly with the appropriate chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board.

Mr. Goodlad

Questions which relate specifically to matters within the management competence of the Central Electricity Generating Board or the South of Scotland Electricity Board, or where the answer requires detailed information not available in my Department or in the Scottish Office, are normally referred to the chairman of the board concerned.

Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of how he calculated the stated figure of a £1 billion advantage to French industry of its nuclear energy programme.

Mr. Goodlad

A reduction in the proportion of nuclear generation in the French electricity system from the present 65 per cent. to the 20 per cent. in Britain would add approximately 0.5p to the cost of a kilowatt hour of French electricity. This is broadly the difference between French and United Kingdom industrial electricity tariffs as detailed in the CBI report on "European Industrial Energy Prices" published in February 1985. When multiplied by electricity consumption in French industrial and commercial concerns, this yields a saving close to £1 billion.