§ 40. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what new power stations he has authorised for construction during the seven years from 1st April, 1972; what aggregate megawatts installed are embraced by this seven years' authorisation; and how much is coal-fired, how much is oil-fired and how much is nuclear-powered.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Peter Emery)With the permission of the House, I will circulate, in the Official Report, the details requested for the CEGB stations now under construction and including Ince B. This programme extends until 1978 and the CEGB advises me that it has no firm plans at present for further orders for major stations.
§ Sir G. NabarroBut can my hon. Friend say whether any coal-fired stations are included in the seven-years' programme to 1978? As the Central Electricity Generating Board today consumes about half of our total output of coal, is it not essential to the future plans of the National Coal Board that it should know exactly what off-take of coal is needed at the power stations?
§ Mr. EmeryMy hon. Friend will see in the OFFICIAL REPORT that the Kingsnorth power station is both oil- and coal-fired and the Didcot power station is coal-fired. It is the CEGB that has to make its recommendation to the Minister on its plans for fuel for future stations.
§ Mr. BennWhat growth rate forecasts has the CEGB in its future plans? Do they correspond with the forecasts of growth made by the Government in their very optimistic statement?
§ Mr. EmeryIf the right hon. Gentleman will put down a Question on growth 1053 rate, I shall then, and only then, be able to give him the exact answer.
§ Following are the details:
§ The stations now under construction for the CEGB which are programmed for completion by 31st March, 1979 are as follows:
| Station | Fuel | Output Capacity of Steam plant (MW) | ||
| Kingsnorth | … | Oil/Coal | … | 2,000 |
| Fiddlers Ferry | … | Coal | … | 2,000 |
| Aberthaw B | … | Coal | … | 1,500 |
| Pembroke | … | Oil | … | 2,000 |
| Didcot | … | Coal | … | 2,000 |
| Dungeness B | … | Nuclear (AGR) | … | 1,320 |
| Drax I | … | Coal | … | 1,980 |
| Hinkley Point B | … | Nuclear (AGR) | … | 1,320 |
| Hartlepool | … | Nuclear (AGR) | … | 1,320 |
| Heysham | … | Nuclear (AGR) | … | 1,320 |
| Grain | … | Oil | … | 3,300 |
| Ince B* | … | Oil | … | 1,000 |
| *The CEGB is negotiating to Place main orders for this station as soon as possible |
| ANALYSIS OF CEGB CAPACITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY FUEL | ||||
| Coal fired | … | 7,480 | (36%) | (4 stations) |
| Coal/Oil fired | … | 2,000 | (9%) | (1 stations) |
| Oil fired | … | 6,300 | (30%) | (3 stations) |
| Nuclear | … | 5,280 | (25%) | (4 stations) |
| Total steam capacity | … | 21,060 | (12 stations) |
§ In addition, the stations include 795 MW of gas turbine generation.