HC Deb 28 July 1978 vol 954 cc985-6W
Mr. Campbell

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will announce his decision on the request to

Tonnes, live weight
Haddock
West Scotland* North Sea Cost East Greenland* Plaice North Seat
Belgium 78 2,015 7,385
Denmark (including Greenland) 13 19,966 372 19,026
France 3,030 6,914 596
Federal Republic of Germany 30 3,790 7,075 5,418
Ireland 1,115 45
Netherlands 30 1,594 53,691
United Kingdom 16,714 106,641 1,514 31,113
* 1976 catch.
†Provisional 1977 catch.

him by the Central Electricity Generating Board for investment approval for a 1320 MW oil-fired power station at Inswork Point, near Plymouth.

Mr. Benn

I have told the CEGB that, on grounds of national energy policy, I do not intend to give investment approval to its proposal for the construction of this oil-fired power station. I have asked the Board, in consultation with the National Coal Board, to study means of meeting the needs of the south-west by the construction of coal-fired generating capacity.

Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to take any further action to assist coal-burn in South Wales power stations.

Mr. Eadie

Following a meeting on 29th June with representatives of the NCB, the CEGB, the mining unions and the electricity supply unions, the Government have agreed to extend the scheme announced on 27th July last year—[Vol. 936, c.239–40]—to the end of October 1978 and to also include within it additional coal-burn at Aberthaw B power station. This should help avoid a further increase in coal stocks in South Wales during the rest of the summer.