HC Deb 30 March 1984 vol 57 cc342-3W
Mr. Maclean

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the position in the current year regarding compensation to the Central Electricity Generating Board for the costs of limiting its imports of coal.

Mr. Peter Walker

My hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) the then Under-Secretary of State for Energy, in answer to a written question from my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 20 April 1983 said that the Government had asked the CEGB to continue to limit its imports of coal for the time being. The CEGB has deducted the costs involved from its payments to the NCB. The NCB's deficit grant limit of £600 million includes provision of £12.8 million for this compensation for the first six months of 1983–84. The Government intend to meet the costs arising in the second half of 1983–84 also through an additional payment of deficit grant to the NCB.