§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the effect on national mortality and morbidity rates of a further five year moratorium on gas-fired power stations. [46580]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 19 June 1998]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced in December 1997 that she proposed to defer decisions on outstanding or new applications for power station consents while a review of energy sources for power generation was underway. This review is near completion and I understand that an announcement will be made shortly. Any changes to emissions from power stations will be taken into account as part of the review of the national air quality strategy which will be completed by the end of this year.