HC Deb 16 July 1999 vol 335 cc355-6W
Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Baglan Cogeneration Ltd.'s application to build a new combined cycle gas turbine power station at Baglan Bay, South Wales. [92027]

Mr. Battle

I have today granted consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to Baglan Cogeneration for the construction of a 500 MW combined cycle gas turbine power station at the BP Chemicals site at Baglan Bay, Port Talbot in South Wales. I have also deemed planning permission to be granted subject to 44 planning conditions agreed with the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. The reasons why there were no energy policy objections to the proposal were given in the decision letter of 7 April 1999.

Copies of the Press Notice and the Section 36 decision letter are being placed in the Library.

Mr. White

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is yet in a position to make his decision on Eastern Generation Ltd.'s application for the Drakelow C coal-fired power station to be dual-fired by gas. [92026]

Mr. Battle

I have today granted consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to Eastern Generation Ltd. for the conversion of Drakelow C coal-fired power station to allow it to be dual fired by gas.

I have taken into account the arguments for and against the conversion. I concluded that as long as strict conditions were attached to the consent, then the benefits of the conversion, such as extending the life of the power station and thereby protecting jobs, outweighed the disadvantages. I also consider planning permission to be granted, subject to five planning conditions agreed with South Derbyshire District Council.

This decision has been taken in line with the policy set out in the White Paper entitled "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government Response to Fourth and Fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee" (Cm 4071).

Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter are being placed in the Library.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry following his announcement of a stricter power station consents policy for a limited period while other reforms of the electricity market are put in place, what criteria must be met before he will relax the policy; and when he will carry this out. [91573]

Mr. Battle

It is the expectation that the stricter power station consents policy will be relaxed as soon as the Government conclude that their programme of reform of the electricity market is substantially complete and the distortions identified in the White Paper (cm 4071) have been removed.