§ 40. Mr. Roseasked the Minister of Power what assessment he has made of the contribution which coal can make in district heating schemes for large housing developments.
§ Mr. FreesonCoal is already contributing. I have myself visited the scheme at Billingham where the entire heating needs of a new town centre, with shops, municipal offices, blocks of flats, factory buildings and an indoor sports and entertainment forum are being provided for by piped hot water from a single boiler house served by solid fuel. Some 30 district heating schemes using coal are in operation, under construction or in the final stages of design.