§ 8. Dr. J. Dickson Mabonasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many privately owned nuclear powered generating stations are in operation in the United Kingdom; and what recent requests he has received from individuals or private companies to build such nuclear powered generating stations.
§ Mr. MellorNone.
§ Dr. MabonWhy are we persisting with the provision in the Energy Bill that allows private companies to be main generators of nuclear power? If the Minister does not sympathise with that, why does he not scrap it?
§ Mr. MellorIf I may say so, the right hon. Gentleman is being a little perverse. It has been made clear that the Government are erecting a further barrier that would lie in the way of a private generator who wished to build a nuclear power station. As the right hon. Gentleman was happy that a private generator did not require the Secretary of State's consent when he was in the Department of Energy, I cannot understand his concern now.