HC Deb 06 July 1981 vol 8 c13
12. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress he has made in encouraging the increased use of coal in industry and in generation; what further steps he is taking to extend this coal usage; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Moore

There have so far been more than 1,000 inquiries about the £50 million coal-fired boiler scheme, which should result directly in additional coal burn building up to 2 million tonnes per annum.

In the power station market, 78 per cent. of our electricity is already generated from coal—one of the highest percentages in the industrial free world—and nearly all of it from United Kingdom coal.

Beyond this it is for the coal industry to be competitive for it to win and retain further markets.

Mr. Roberts

Will the Minister use his considerable influence with the National Coal Board and the Department of the Environment to speed up investment in the coal industry? Will he meet the additional investment by stimulating usage and by offering additional incentives for using coal in both the industrial and domestic sectors?

Mr. Moore

As Mr. Gormley said in Jersey this morning, security of supply and price competitiveness are the key to the future developed use of coal. Those are areas in which the coal industry can pursue its aim to obtain larger markets through competitively priced coal.

Mr. Skeet

Does my hon. Friend expect to build any further coal-fired power stations, or will they be nuclear stations? Secondly, will he indicate the self-financing ratio of the National Coal Board's investments?

Mr. Moore

There are no current plans for additional coal-burning capacity. The latest figures suggest that in 1979–80 the board's internally generated resources, before taking account of Government grants of £251 million, were a negative £74 million. We have not yet received the publication of the board's 1980–81 accounts, which will contain the current figures.

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