HC Deb 14 May 1982 vol 23 cc340-1W
Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what information he has now received from other EEC countries in relation to cities heated by power station waste, district heating and combined heat and power plants; and if he will set out as much information as is available to him as to the names of those cities, their populations, the number of houses and industries receiving such heating, what percentage it represents of the heating load and the saving in coal equivalent;

(2) what savings he now estimates in coal equivalent that in the United Kingdom combined heat and power plants providing district heating on the domestic, commercial and industrial heat load of the United Kingdom would make, applying the criteria set out by his Department's combined heat and power group;

(3) what it the expected completion date of the industrial combined heat and power scheme in Whitehaven, Cumbria; what is now the expected cost of the project; how much grant is being given by his Department; and under what conditions;

(4) what estimated energy savings are claimed by the firms using the Hereford 15 megawatt plant opened in 1979; and whether the intention that the plant would save importing 15,500 tonnes of coal worth £1½ million in foreign currency has been realised;

(5) what is now the estimated cost of the combined heat and power scheme by the Midlands electricity board at Fort Dunlop; and what is the estimated date of completion;

(6) if he has further considered the likely date when he will be announcing lead cities as the most likely sites for pilot district heating schemes; and how he now proposes to fund them.

Mr. Mellor

I shall answer the hon. Member as soon as possible.