§ 18. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Minister of Technology how many applications his Department has received from the Central Electricity Generating Board to build new power stations; what kind of fuel is to be used; and what kind he 18 has authorised to be included in the next building programme.
Mr. Alan WilliamsApplications under consideration at 31st March, 1969, were listed in the Minister of Power's Report (House of Commons Paper 429). Since then the C.E.G.B. has applied for consent for a nuclear power station at Connah's Quay. The C.E.G.B. has recently been given consent for A.G.R. stations at Heysham and Sizewell B and an oil-fired station on the Isle of Grain; it will also be constructing the second half of the Drax coal-fired station, for which it already has consent.
§ Mr. WainwrightWill my hon. Friend accept that the mining industry welcomes the decision that the Drax power station should be coal-fired, and will he give consideration to replacing old-fashioned coal-fired power stations by new coal-fired stations so as to ensure that the mining industry and supplies of coal shall not be reduced?
Mr. WilliamsI cannot preclude the possibility that there could be more coal-fired stations, but I cannot go beyond that at this stage. I am sure that the mining industry, as my hon. Friend has said, welcomes the fact that the Drax power station is the biggest single project undertaken by the C.E.G.B. and will mean 5,000 jobs for miners.
§ Mr. J. H. OsbornAre sufficient power stations now under construction or in the pipeline to meet expected demands for 1975?