§ Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has completed his review of the need for Littlebrook D Power Station; what is now the position in respect of the proposed construction of Drax B; and whether he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. VarleyThe construction of Little-brook D was authorised by the previous administration last summer and the contract for the boilers was let last autumn. However, they asked the CEGB to suspend the placing of further contracts pending a review of the need for the station in the light of the changed energy position. We ourselves have looked critically at the need for this station. We are satisfied that increased electricity supplies are necessary in the South-East. There is a shortage of suitable sites and only the construction of Littlebrook D can meet the anticipated extra demand in the necessary time scale. In view of this and the commitments already entered into, we have concluded that the construction of Little-brook D should proceed.
It is, of course, our policy to make the optimum use of all our indigenous fuels, and I have also been reviewing with the CEGB the case for proceeding with the construction of the second half of the Drax coal-fired station. The likely future availability of indigenous coal is still under examination by the Tripartite Group, but I have every expectation that when this examination is complete the NCB will proceed with the development of the Selby coalfield. In that event the CEGB has confirmed that it will include in its 1974 capital programme provision for the building of the second stage of Drax Power Station.