HC Deb 18 March 1969 vol 780 cc179-82
9 and 10. Mr. Ashton

asked the Minister of Power (1) in view of the difficulties being experienced in the nuclear power programme, if he will consider the further immediate use of low cost coal for power generation until these difficulties have been overcome;

(2) when he will announce his conclusions about the commencement of a second coal-fired generating station at West Burton.

18 and 19. Mr. Marquand

asked the Minister of Power (1) what representations he has received about the proposed second coal-fired generating station at West Burton; and what reply he has given to them;

(2) when he expects to announce his decision on the construction by the Central Electricity Generating Board of a further coal-fired power station.

36. Mr. Cronin

asked the Minister of Power if he will give further consideration to the use of low-cost coal for power generation, having regard to the difficulties which have arisen in the nuclear power programme.

The Minister of Power (Mr. Roy Mason)

Experience to date with the nuclear power programme gives no grounds for changing existing policies. The Central Electricity Generating Board has no immediate plans for a further coal-fired station but the possibility will be kept under review in the light of the policy described in paragraph 98 of the Fuel Policy White Paper (Cmnd. 3438). In fact, I saw a delegation from the Nottinghamshire County Council on 18th December and I am sending it my comments on the memorandum it submitted to me about a second power station at West Burton.

Mr. Ashton

I thank my right hon. Friend for sending the memorandum to the county council. Is he aware that it is three years since the last coal-fired power station was ordered by the C.E.G.B.? Is he further aware that the N.C.B. is putting in what I believe to be a record low bid for the second power station at Drax? Due to nuclear difficulties at South Dakota in America, they are now going back to fossil fuels. Further, will he take—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Question must be brief, even from a new Member.

Mr. Mason

I am aware—

Hon. Members

Order.

Mr. Ashton

It is due to banding five Questions together that I have to ask this super-supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Is my right hon. Friend further aware—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. Mr. Mason.

Mr. Mason

I have forgotten all the questions now. I am aware of how long it has been since a coal-fired station was ordered. There are 20,000 megawatts of coal-fired stations either being commissioned or under construction at present, and by 1975 at least 74 per cent. of all power generation will still be from coal.

On the second major point, about the Chairman of the National Coal Board having made a record low offer, no offer has been made to the C.E.G.B. and no offer has been made to the Ministry of Power. Public contracting in this way can cause annoyance, can be misleading, and does not satisfy anyone.

Mr. Marquand

With reference to my right hon. Friend's point about the deputation from Nottinghamshire, what, if any, factual miscalculations were there in the very solid and reasonably based representations which the Nottinghamshire County Council put before him?

Mr. Mason

I cannot go into all the details about pence per kW-hour or per unit, the life of generating sets, and so on. No doubt, my hon. Friend will have noted that the C.E.G.B. has now changed the ground rules for nuclear stations, and they will now have a life of 25 years compared with 20 years hitherto, so that nuclear power becomes more competitive still.

Mr. Cronin

Will my right hon. Friend give some consideration to setting up a prototype plant for the fluidised-bed system of coal combustion, as this seems likely to revolutionise the use of coal as a low-cost fuel?

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman must not anticipate later Questions on the Order Paper.

Mr. Mason

My hon. Friend has jumped out of bed too soon. There are at least five other Questions on that topic.

Sir J. Eden

Since the right hon. Gentleman has confirmed that the C.E.G.B. has changed the ground rules, would it not have been more proper if in answering the debate on Friday he had drawn the attention of the House to that matter?

Mr. Mason

I did answer Questions during the week. It would not have been possible on that occasion, when the hon. Gentleman himself left me very little time to reply to a whole day's debate.