§ 5. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Minister of Power to what extent he estimates the decision to make the new Scottish power station coal-burning will affect the number of men employed in the coal-mining industry of Ayrshire.
13. Mr. J. Hillasked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the effect on the market for coal and employment in the industry of the decision by the South of Scotland Electricity Board to construct a 2,300 meggawatt power station to be fuelled by coal.
§ Mr. WoodWhen the projected station is in full operation I understand that it will burn about 5½ million tons of coal a year. This is equal to the output of about 10,000 miners, but it is too early for the Coal Board to say how this employment would be distributed between the different parts of the Scottish coalfield.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Minister aware that after the Barony pit was shut down there was a definite undertaking by the Coal Board that if the power station was coal-fired the Barony would be reopened? Is he aware that there would be great relief in the area if that decision were come to?
§ Mr. WoodI understand that the chairman of the Scottish Coal Board said, as the hon. Member has suggested, that he expected the Barony pit to be reopened within the next three years, but when that time will be must depend on a number of considerations, technical and otherwise.
Mr. HillAlthough the figures given by the Minister are very encouraging, will he reject out of hand the agreement made between the Coal Board and the Electricity Board in Scotland that the next power station shall be oil-fired? What right has oil to have that guarantee—a guarantee which coal cannot get? I 1636 should like to know what the Minister is prepared to do about this, because in Scotland we are very concerned about imported fuel getting a guarantee which the coal industry can never get from the Government.
§ Mr. WoodI am very glad to hear that the hon. Member welcomes the decision which the Secretary of State for Scotland announced last week. I am sure we all feel that it would be too early for us to speculate about what fuel will be used in the next power station, and, although I have seen the report to which the hon. Member referred, I am not prepared to speculate. This will be a matter for my right hon. Friend to decide when application is made to him for either a coal-fired or an oil-fired station. He will decide that matter when the time comes for him to give his consent.
§ Mr. ManuelIs the Minister aware that his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) about the reopening of the Barony pit simply will not do? It was not only the chairman of the Scottish Coal Board but Lord Robens himself who gave a definite promise that if the new power station is to be coal-fired the Barony would be reopened. Will it be reopened?
§ Mr. WoodIf Lord Robens made the statement it is clearly a matter for Lord Robens and the Scottish Board to decide.
Mr. HamiltonIn view of the tremendous importance of this decision to the future of the coal mining industry, can the Minister say why there was such inordinate delay in arriving at the decision?
§ Mr. WoodI think the hon. Member will realise that the comparative cost of coal and oil had very carefully to be examined and various considerations had to be balanced against the great benefit to which the hon. Member has drawn our attention.