Electricity Generation (Hansard, 16 December 1985)

§ 3. Mr. Proctor
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of United Kingdom electricity generation comes from (a) nuclear, (b) oil, (c) coal and (d) hydro sources; and if he will make a statement.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Alastair Goodlad)
For 1983 the 4 proportions were 17.6 per cent. for nuclear, 7.3 per cent. for oil, 72.9 per cent. for coal and 2.2 per cent. for hydro. The proportions in 1984, which were distorted by the strike in the coal industry, were 18.6 per cent. for nuclear, 32.4 per cent. for oil, 46.5 per cent. for coal and 2.5 per cent. for hydro.

§ Mr. Proctor
In view of the need to get a better balance in electricity generation, and of the need to increase its nuclear proportion, and in the light of the disturbing comments in the newspapers this morning, will my hon. Friend assure the House that the nuclear industry has a proven, successful and safe track record?

§ Mr. Goodlad
I cannot comment on the reports in the newspapers, but I am delighted to confirm that the safety record of the nuclear industry is, as my hon. Friend says, excellent.

§ Mr. Donald Stewart
Is the Minister aware of the disappointment and anger in Scotland at the Government's half-hearted support for alternative sources of energy such as peat and wind, wave and hydro power, most of which have no adverse effects on the environment? Are the Government prepared to do something to investigate such alternative sources?

§ Mr. Goodlad
The right hon. Gentleman is right to say that there is an important role for alternative sources of energy, which is why substantial amounts of money have been committed by the Government to research into these matters, which the advisory committee on research and development under the chairmanship of Sir Sam Edwards said were properly directed in the circumstances, and of the right amount.

§ Dr. Michael Clark
As many countries are pressing ahead strongly with nuclear energy, and as our neighbours across the Channel are already producing about 60 per cent. of their electricity from nuclear sources, does my hon. Friend agree that our proportion of electricity produced from nuclear energy, at about 17 or 18 per cent., is very disappointing? What measures has my hon. Friend in hand to increase the percentages?

§ Mr. Goodlad
The level of nuclear generation is as my hon. Friend stated it. When the first and second generations of AGRs are fully operational, the proportion of electricity generated by nuclear stations should be about 25 per cent. I welcome that development. After that, the outcome of the Sizewell inquiry is important, and upon that I cannot predict or comment.

§ Mrs. Clwyd
The Minister cannot shelter behind his earlier statement that he cannot comment upon newspaper reports. Surely it is in the interests of all that nuclear power should not be developed further until we can be assured that the nuclear industry can dispose safely of its waste. The Select Committee on the Environment, whose leaked report is referred to in The Times today, has made this point. It is completely irresponsible of the Government to go ahead with any such development until they can give that assurance to the public.

§ Mr. Goodlad
I cannot comment in advance upon a Select Committee report which I understand is expected in the new year. The decision to continue reprocessing was taken by Parliament in 1978 when the hon. Lady's party was in government. Having regard to the national interest 5 and the total fuel cycle, no insuperable environmental problems have subsequently arisen which might lead to a reconsideration of this decision.

§ Mr. Sackville
I recognise the potential benefits of cheaper coal through opencast mining, but will my hon. Friend say something about his Department's environmental policy on opencast mining, particularly in the context of my constituency where three separate operations are being applied for, which potentially could cause very severe damage to the environment?

§ Mr. Goodlad
I know that my hon. Friend has taken a very close interest in this subject as it affects his constituency. Environmental problems are primarily a matter for the Department of the Environment, but I know that the National Coal Board has them very much in mind.

§ Mr. Eadie
Is the hon. Gentleman not being a little too optimistic about thermo-nuclear power generation? America, for example, will not commission any more nuclear power stations this century. As we always seem to fall in line with America on other matters, it is possible that we shall fall into line there? As for the hon. Gentleman's answer about alternative sources of energy, is he not being too optimistic about the spending on alternative sources of energy? It is about £14 million. We learnt on Friday from Hansard that we are spending, through Rubican and Young, £10.5 million on energy conservation advertising.

§ Mr. Goodlad
The Government attach great importance to energy conservation, as we do to alternative sources of energy. I said earlier that the advisory committee on research and development had said that the division of research funds for investigating alternative energy sources was appropriate. I am not responsible for what happens in the United States of America, but I have every confidence that the nuclear power programme will be as successful under this Government as it was under the hon. Gentleman's Government.