HL Deb 16 January 1979 vol 397 cc846-8

2.45 p.m.

Lord BIRDWOOD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps have been taken to investigate the feasibility of a cross-channel electricity supply link.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, the Central Electricity Generating Board and Ekctricité de France have carried out a joint study of a cross-channel link. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Energy gave approval in principle to a 2,000 MW link on 3rd August last year. Discussions of detail on technical and other matters are continuing between the two utilities.

Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARY-LEBONE

My Lords, will the noble Lord remind us of what became of the proposed or actual link with Dungeness across the Channel?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, that is a slightly different question, if I may say so to the noble and learned Lord. The favoured route for the present link is between Folkestone and Sangatte.

Lord BIRDWOOD

My Lords, the whole House will thank the noble Lord for his reply to my original Question. However, would he not agree that the creation of such a link is of some priority, as it would make the provision of electricity for a substantial part of this country independent of any potential interruption in the supply of coal?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, there are great advantages to both the United Kingdom and France in such a link. The shortage of generating capacity can be made up and each utility can obtain cheaper rates from the other. Furthermore, the link offers an opportunity to export up to 1 million tons of coal by wire every year.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, will the noble Lord add to that information by saying when it is thought that this link may come into being, particularly as regards the reference to coal, which is so important? The noble Lord is so helpful about all these matters.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, the link is planned to come into operation in stages, the first 1,000 MW in 1982 and the second in 1983.