§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Minister of Technology what consultations were held with the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers before his recent decision to allow the Central Electricity Generating Board to convert Hams Hall "C" Power Station to natural gas.
§ Mr. Harold Lever:I discussed the matter with the chairman of the board in the course of my normal meetings with him; and with the N.U.M. to satisfy myself that conversion would not preclude a resumption of coal-burning at reasonable notice and would not have prejudicial effect on the coal industry.
§ Mr. G. Elfed Daviesasked the Minister of Technology if he has now given his consent to the conversion of the Central Electricity Generating Board's Hams Hall C Power Station to dual firing.
§ Mr. Harold Lever:Consent has been given against an undertaking by the C.E.G.B. that the conversion to dual firing with coal and natural gas will not be implemented unless the conditions outlined in the reply to my hon. Friend on 26th March are met; namely, that the terms of the contract for the supply of 92W natural gas do not preclude a resumption of coal-firing at reasonable notice.—[Vol. 798, c. 505–6.]