HC Deb 08 December 1980 vol 995 cc615-6
12. Sir Anthony Meyer

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce a decision to go ahead with the two pilot plants for extraction of oil from coal at Point of Ayr colliery in North Wales.

Mr. John Moore

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Energy on Monday 24 November.

Sir Anthony Meyer

As Britain has a world lead in this technology, and as we have the human and natural resources to sustain it, would it not be fatal for our future as an advanced industrial nation to cut out the project in the interests of short-term economies, however pressing the need to implement them may be?

Mr. Moore

As my hon. Friend made clear in a recent Adjournment debate, a process of discussion and debate is taking place on this issue. I accept his argument on technological abilities, human availability and the resources that we have in this area, but that does not mean that we must not be careful when it comes to taking a decision.

Mr. Eadie

Is the Minister aware that in his recent Adjournment debate the hon. Member for Flint, West (Sir A. Meyer) made the case that something should happen immediately, in the interests of technological development in Britain? Does the hon. Gentleman understand that we are becoming concerned about the many delays for which the Department of Energy is responsible in the technology of producing oil from coal? Does he recollect that he gave an assurance to the House on the Third Reading of the Coal Industry Bill that the Government would provide as much money as the Labour Government for oil-from-coal projects? When are the Government to do that? It is urgent for Britain, and urgent for coal.

Mr. Moore

It is important to confirm my hon. Friend's remarks in the Adjournment debate, when he rightly paid tribute to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) for the initiative and lead that he took when he had the position that I now have the privilege to hold. Beyond that, he laid out the programme clearly and made it clear in his work that the decision to be taken was of great complexity and importance. No matter how quickly we may wish to take that decision, considerable time and effort must be put into it. As soon as the decision is made, the House will be told.