§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to end the exemption currently given to power stations from the Oil Fuel (Sulphur Content of Gas Oil) Regulations 976; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Oil Fuel (Sulphur Content of Gas Oil) Regulations 1976 brought into effect the provisions of EEC directive 75/716/EEC which specifically excludes gas oil used in power stations. I have no plans to change the regulations to remove the exemption for gas oil used in power stations. Total use of gas oil in the United Kingdom is some 16 million tonnes a year, mostly as vehicle fuel and for heating of buildings. Only some 200,000 tonnes are used in power stations, as a starter fuel for generating plant. This source does not make a significant contribution to total power station emissions of sulphur dioxide.