319
30 JUNE 1977
Written Answers
touches On bede national interests and therefore puts a premium on perseverance and patience; and
the increasing awareness of the overriding need for coal energy conservation and nuclear power if Be are to fuel oir
economies.
The United Kingdom presidency of the Energy Council has not brought dramatic pro- gress in the formulation of a Community energy policy and we did not expect it to do So. However. I believe that it has been marked by strong Ministerial political-com- trol over energy ažairs which is essential. We have promoted greater informality and closer Ministerial inks and. I hope, a greater sense of realism in our approach to a subject which must be seen increasingly in a wider inter- national framework.
These developments give me some satisfac- tion since I set out to concentrate during my presidency on the Energy Council's methods of work. My caly regret is the failure to persuade my Community colleagues to open part of the Council's discussions to represen- tatives of the Press and European Assembly before whose Committee on Energy and Re- search I rice had the pleasure of appearing to explain the work of the Energy Council.”
Electricity Bills
Mr. Sproat asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the average annual electricity bill for a private con- sumer in each of the electricity board areas in the United Kingdom.
revenue
Mr. Eadie: The average obtained from domestic consumers by each of the electricity boards in Great Britain and by the Northern Ireland Elec- tricity Service in 1975-76-the latest year for which accounts for all the boards concerned have been published-was as follows:
Electricity Board or Service
Leccoo
South Eastern
Southera
Seeth Western
Easter
East Midlands
Mitiands
South Wales
Merseyside and North Wales
Yorkshire
North Easter
North Wester
South of Scotland North of Scotland Northern Ireland
Average Revenue
£
90
WARKANONSKORJER
76
104
75
Nors: (1) The different figures reflect the diferent level of consumption—both total com sumption and the relative amounts consumed under different tariffs-in ore area compared with another as well as different the layaje
29 3 13
Written Answers.
320
In particular, the relatively high figures for the Scottish boards reflect high average consump- tion in Scotland.
(2) The figures for the English, Welsh and Scottish boards were derived from the annual reports and accounts for 1975-76 of the boards concerned and those for Northern Ireland from information provided by the Northern Ireland Electricity Service.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Argentina (United Kingdom Citizens)
Mr. Powell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many descendants of Welshmen who settled in Argentina in the earlier part of the last century it is known or estimated are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.
Mr. Rowlands: Our embassy in Buenos Aires estimates that the number of descendants of Welshmen who settled in Argentina in the last century and who may have a claim to citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies is about 200.
Hong Kong
Mr. Newens asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many children of primary school age in Hong Kong are not attend- ing school; and what percentage this represents of the total number of child- ren in this age range.
Mr. Luard: It is estimated that about 6,300 children, or 12 per cent. of those of primary school age, may not be attending school.
New Hebrides
Mr. Newens asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made to date, between the British and French High Commissioners and the representatives of political parties in the New Hebrides, in working out a satisfactory, pattern for independence and the future government and administration of these territories.
Mr. Luard: In the light of the dis- cussions which the British and French High Commissioners had with political leaders during their visit to the New
brides in March, it was decided that
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