8. Mr. Jacksonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when work under the lignite prospecting licences announced in 1985 is likely to begin.
§ Dr. BoysonLegal formalities for the issue of the three licences should be completed shortly, and I understand that the companies hope to start work this month.
Mr. JacksonI thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Will he expand on the benefits of lignite development for Northern Ireland?
§ Dr. BoysonI hope that there will be benefits from what we are doing. The immediate advantage is that it will cheapen electricity production. That is why we are 1084 considering building a lignite-fired generating station at Crumlin. It should make electricity costs for industry and for homes in Northern Ireland equal to the lowest in this country and in Europe.
§ Mr. FoulkesWill the Minister tell the House what effect the development of lignite will have on the supply of Ayrshire coal to power stations in Northern Ireland? In particular, will he confirm that it is planned that the Kilroot power station will continue to burn Ayrshire coal? Will he also tell us why the decision has been made in the short term to burn oil at the Belfast West power station—a very unwise decision—when the supply of Ayrshire coal can be maintained and guaranteed in the long term? Will the Northern Ireland Office hold discussions with the Coal Board about the use of Ayrshire coal in Northern Ireland and the devastating effect it would have on Ayrshire if the supply of coal to Northern Ireland were not continued?
§ Dr. BoysonI appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern about coal sales from Ayrshire to Northern Ireland. The conversion of Kilroot from oil to coal burning is going ahead. The contract has been given to the NEI. We shall have to weigh the question of conversion at other power stations. Much depends upon the price at which coal can be bought. Electricity prices in Northern Ireland have continually been among the highest in the United Kingdom. As the price of oil is falling, and if coal is to be bought for Northern Ireland, we shall have to consider the price at which it can be bought from the Coal Board.
§ Mr. HumeIs the Minister aware of the public concern that has been expressed by many residents in the Lough Neagh area about the possibility of damage being done to the environment by lignite mining? As the environmental quality of that area is the highest in Europe, does he not think that a public inquiry is necessary before a licence to mine lignite in the Lough Neagh area is granted?
§ Dr. BoysonThis is one of those times when I can answer yes. I agree entirely with the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume). We have granted a prospecting only licence for two years. There is no guarantee that a mining licence will follow. I have met objectors from East Tyrone in my office in Northern Ireland and I have read all the material that they have published. We have given a straightforward commitment—which has the agreement of my hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for the environment in Northern Ireland—that if a mining application is made by any company, a public inquiry will be held.
§ Mr. ArcherDoes the hon. Gentleman appreciate that the danger envisaged by the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume) applies to the prospecting itself? As Lough Neagh is listed in the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as a site of international importance, have the Government given notice of their proposal to grant licences for prospecting, and have they made any assessment of its effect upon wildlife?
§ Dr. BoysonBefore we were prepared to give the three licences for prospecting, we took advice from wherever it was available and we listened to all the objections. I have been assured that prospecting can go ahead without any damage to the East Tyrone area or to the level of Lock 1085 Neagh. If prospecting had been a threat to the level of Lock Neagh, or to its boundaries, we should have had to think very deeply before granting the licences.