§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications he has received for investment grants from industrial companies intending to construct their own coal-, oil- or gas-fired thermal or nuclear power stations to provide energy for their own manufacturing operations, including aluminium smelting; and whether it is his policy to give investment grants for this purpose.
§ Mr. Darling:We have received applications relating to nine new electrical generating stations to be used by manufacturing companies in these circumstances. None is from an aluminium smelting company.
Equipment for such stations is normally eligible for investment grant, but for very large stations applications would be considered in the light of the implications for the statutory bodies responsible for the generation and distribution of electricity.