§ [No.15]
§ Page 7, line 29, leave out from 'station' to end of line 31 and insert 'the Secretary of State may direct any of those Boards and, in respect of a station of a capacity of 100 megawatts or more, he may direct any such person as is referred to in subsection (1)(b)'
§ 9.40 p.m.
§ Lord KIRKHILLMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 15. Your Lordships will perhaps recollect that the object of Clause 7 is to enable the Government to implement in Great Britain an EEC Council Directive—No. 75/339—which requires Member States to maintain minimum stocks of fossil fuel at thermal power stations. Those stocks must be sufficient to secure the continuation of electricity supplies for at least 30 days. Your Lordships will recall that the noble Lord, Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, drew attention at Committee stage to the right under the Directive to determine the quantities of fuel to be stocked at each power station so long as the level of stocks overall is sufficient to secure the continuation of electricity supplies for at least 30 days.
This Amendment, by making the restriction to generating stations of 100mW or more apply only in relation to private generating stations—that is to say, those operated by persons of the kind described in Clause 7(1)(b)—will enable directions to be given to the CEGB which will reflect the provisions of the Directive. In fact, I am advised that the stocks at present held by the CEGB exceed those which the Directive requires. I commend the Amendment to your Lordships.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(Lord Kirkhill.)