§ Mr. Milneasked the Minister of Technology what arrangements he has made with the Central Electricity Generating Board to use extra coal in the year starting 1st April, 1970, in accordance with the Coal Industry Act, 1967; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Harold LeverAs part of the continuing review of fuel policy, I have been considering the level of future support for coal by the C.E.G.B. Demand for coal has been running above supply and stocks have fallen sharply. As a result, extra coal used by the C.E.G.B. under Section 6 of the Coal Industry Act, 1967, has been reduced from 6 million tons in 1968–69 to about 2 million tons in 1969–70, and with coal no longer in excess supply no additional use seems called for in 1970–71, when the C.E.G.B.'s coal demand is expected to reach a record level.
In these circumstances, the board is now planning to convert to oil three power stations—Littlebrook B, Brunswick Wharf and part of Portishead B—which it already had statutory consent to convert and in respect of which it has 227W been receiving compensation for the extra cost of continuing to use coal. This does not affect the Government's intention to introduce legislation to extend until 31st March, 1974, powers to support extra coal consumption should the coal position make this necessary.