§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he intends to assist the establishment of experimental fluidised bed combustion stations additional to that at Grimethorpe;
(2) what research his Department has undertaken or commissioned into the building of pithead power stations.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerOn 24 August my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced financial support of up to £8 million to assist development of British Coal's topping cycle concept at the Grimethorpe test facility. This is an experimental fluidised bed combustion plant rather than a power station, and it is hoped that the concepts being developed there will be applied commercially, either at the pit head or elsewhere. Fluidised bed technology is proven and commercially available. The promotion of specific applications is a matter for industry, rather than Government.