§ 19. Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to approve the construction of a new major coal-fired power station.
§ Sir J. EdenThe construction of new power stations is primarily a matter for the C.E.G.B. from whom I have as yet received no firm proposals.
§ Mr. CroninWould the hon. Gentleman take this matter further with the C.E.G.B.? Will he bear in mind that if the Government gave the coal industry such help as this, it would be much easier for miners to be paid a fair wage instead of the wholly inadequate amounts that they have taken home each week?
§ Sir J. EdenThis matter must rest in the first instance with the C.E.G.B. As the hon. Gentleman knows, three-quarters of the C.E.G.B. generating plant is already coal fired.
§ Mr. Evelyn KingIs not the case for the nuclear power station daily growing in strength? Would the Minister pay tribute to the value of the research work done at Winfrith in Dorset and other places, in this respect?
§ Sir J. EdenI gladly pay tribute to the value of the work done at Winfrith in Dorset. The assessment of the relative merits of alternative thermal reactor types is still in progress, as the House knows; and this will no doubt be one of the factors of which the C.E.G.B. will take account.
§ Mr. PalmerWould not the Minister agree that since electricity loads are bound to advance in the years ahead, there is a very strong economic case for the country generally that the generation construction programme should be advanced?
§ Sir J. EdenThe hon. Gentleman knows that we took the decision on employment grounds to bring forward the construction of the Ince B power station. The matter of further power station orders must lie with the C.E.G.B. which has the responsibility of assessing the forward load.
§ Mr. TebbitCan the hon. Gentleman confirm my understanding that at present Australian coal can be delivered more cheaply than British coal to power stations, and that therefore there will have to be further protection for the British coal industry possibly before very long?
§ Sir J. EdenThat is another question.
§ Mr. EadieMay I take it from the Minister's reply that there is some lack of communication between the Cabinet and junior Ministers, in view of the fact that Mr. Chapman Pincher alleges in the Daily Express that there is some secret Cabinet decision arising from the "Think Tank" about the future potential of coal, or is the Minister saying that Mr. Chapman Pincher's allegations are wrong?
§ Sir J. EdenMr. Chapman Pincher is not yet a member of the Cabinet.