HC Deb 14 July 1980 vol 988 cc448-9W
Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when oil-fired capacity will be converted to other fuels; and what revision of this programme is intended, following the Venice pronouncements.

Mr. Norman Lamont

The possibility of converting some units at oil-fired stations to coal-firing is being studied by the generating boards. However in many cases conversion is not considered practicable for economic and technical reasons. In 1979 nearly 85 per cent, of the United Kingdom's electricity was generated from fuels other than oil and in general oil-fired power stations are not operating on base load. The Government are keeping the situation under review.