§ Mr. Concannonasked the Minister of Power if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the power stations that are covered by the East Midlands Economic Council; what is the expected life of these and others that are planned for the future; how many of the power stations are coal-burning; and what is the estimated amount of coal that will be needed for the years 1968 to 1975.
§ Mr. FreesonThe following is a list of Central Electricity Generating Board power stations in commission or under construction in the area covered by the East Midlands Economic Council:—
Castle Donington. Northampton. Cottam. Nottingham. Derby. Ratcliffe. Drakelow. Spondon. High Marnham. Staythorpe. Leicester. West Burton. Lincoln. Willington. All except Derby burn coal (or will when completed). Stations are planned with an assumed life of 30 years.
The stations used 13½ million tons in the year ended 31st March, 1967, Their consumption is likely to be higher next year, but the trend over the following seven years will depend on a number of factors including particularly the rate of growth of electricity consumption and the commissioning of new plant. It is, however, certain that this region will be a major centre of coal-fired electricity generation for many years to come.