HC Deb 14 January 1980 vol 976 cc1184-5
5. Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to reply to the report by the Combined Heat and Power Group.

27. Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress he has made in his consultations concerning the recommendations of the Marshall report on combined heat and power schemes.

Mr. John Moore

As I said on 26 July, the Marshall report on combined heat and power identified several major issues which go beyond energy considerations. The Government are studying these issues very carefully and will make their views known in the near future.

Mr. Rost

Before making any statement on this important report, will my hon. Friend make available to himself other studies by experts in combined heat and power who were not on the committee suggesting that using the heat from power stations can reduce the cost of the power building programme, as well as saving fuel and making substantial amounts of heat available to those who are now having to go without?

Mr. Moore

I am aware of my hon. Friend's long interest and serious concern on this subject. Obviously, any additional papers will be considered by the inter-departmental committee, which will, I hope, report to me in the very near future.

Mr. Hooley

Are the Government aware that a programme of gigantic nuclear power stations of 1,500 MW apiece is quite inconsistent with any sensible policy for combined heat and power, since these stations will inevitably—at least, so one hopes—be sited well away from urban centres where the combined heat and power systems could best be used?

Mr. Moore

It seems to me, looking to our long-term energy needs—whether of coal, gas, oil, combined heat and power or our nuclear programme—that we cannot disconnect any one, and we shall probably need each and all of these facilities to ensure that we meet our energy needs by the end of this century.