§ 33. Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give appropriate general directions to the Central Electricity Generating Board to improve the efficiency of fuel conversion on existing 24 and new power stations by applying energy now wasted to district heating and other useful purposes.
§ Mr. EadieThe CEGB already has statutory duties under Section 50 of the Electricity Act 1947, as amended by the Electricity Act 1957, and under Section 2(5) of the latter Act, which bear directly on the efficiency and economy of its operations and on the use of waste heat.
§ Mr. RostDoes not the Minister agree that that is a most unsatisfactory answer, because it is simply an excuse for saying that nothing is being done to improve the efficiency of our electricity industry? Does he not know that every house and building in the country could be heated from waste products which at present are being poured into rivers or which go up chimneys?
§ Mr. EadieI do not accept the introductory part of the hon. Gentleman's question. He has asked the question many times, and the answer is that this subject is the statutory responsibility of the CEGB. As for the question of waste heat, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the CEGB is always looking into this matter and takes opinions and views on the subject from all over the world.