HL Deb 13 April 1994 vol 553 cc1533-5

2.45 p.m.

Viscount Hanworth asked Her Majesty's Government:

Given that China and developing countries will have to rely on coal for electrical generation, what they are doing to emphasise the importance of research and development of clean burning coal-fired power stations on a worldwide basis.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the Government attach great importance to the development of clean coal technologies. The Department of Trade and Industry already supports some 115 projects, with a value of over £170 million, involving UK and overseas companies, universities, the European Commission and International Energy Action.

Viscount Hanworth

My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for that heartening reply. However, at the back of my mind is the question of whether there is sufficient integration in Europe to ensure that, when the time comes for constructing and paying for some pilot plant, the money will be forthcoming—and forthcoming at once.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, we fully recognise the importance of European collaboration in the development of clean coal technologies. Substantial joint projects are already taking place, increasingly with the DTI's research and development programme as the focus.

Lord Mason of Barnsley

My Lords, is the noble Viscount aware that we pioneered the fluidised bed clean power station technology? Indeed, the developments took place at Grimethorpe near Barnsley. Is he further aware that the Government had a financial interest in it? Can he say what the position is now? Why have we not developed that technology commercially, for home use and for export?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the important issue of the fluidised bed technology mentioned by the noble Lord is now commercially available worldwide. It forms one of the components of the Topping cycle, research into which is being funded by the DTI in partnership with industry.

Viscount Mersey

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the cost of fitting the flue gas desulphurisation units at Drax power station was more than to build the power station in the first place? Is that kind of expensive, clean technology an option for developing countries?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the clean coal technologies are a vital aspect of the development of power stations for the developing countries. It must be so.

Lord Ezra

My Lords, does the noble Viscount agree that the Question asked by my noble friend raises a major issue of international environmental importance? Is he aware that, however much we may do in the developed countries to limit CO2 and other noxious emissions, it could be enormously overtaken by what happens in China and other developing countries? In those circumstances, therefore, is an international effort being made among the developed countries to try to transmit the technology for clean coal development so as to avoid that eventuality?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, this is indeed, as the noble Lord mentioned, a global issue which must be tackled on that basis. There is tremendous collaboration between the countries of the developed world to produce the requisite technologies for transmission to the developing countries.

Lord Morris of Castle Morris

My Lords, can the noble Viscount tell the House what will be the future of the coal research establishment if and when the Coal Industry Bill becomes law? Will the Minister be able to assure the House that its future is secure?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, yes. We feel that the best opportunities for the UK coal industry in general lie in the private sector, where the full management and investment potential can be realised. We also believe that the best way of widening the opportunities available for the Coal Research Establishment in the global market is for it to become an independent organisation.