§ 61. Mr. Palmerasked the Minister of Power what applications for the use of natural gas for electric power generation he received from the electricity supply industry before 26th July; and what applications he received between 26th July and 5th October when the annual report of the Electricity Council was published.
§ 62. Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Power whether he is satisfied that the use of natural gas in place of coal in electricity generating stations will reduce air pollution; and if he will make a statement on restrictions imposed on the Central Electricity Generating Board in their use of natural gas.
§ 66. Dr. Grayasked the Minister of Power if he will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the Central Electricity Generating Board to estimate the financial saving of oil-powered stations near the North Sea gas fields turning North Sea gas into electricity.
§ Mr. MarshI have received no applications from the electricity supply industry for the use of natural gas in power stations, although I am aware of the views expressed by the Electricity Council in their recently published Annual Report. On the factors which would affect such use. I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) on 24th October.
Air pollution would not be greatly reduced by the use of natural gas because special measures are taken to reduce air pollution from the chimneys of coal-fired stations, but the cost of such measures would be avoided.—[Vol. 734, c. 119.]