§ Lord Ironsideasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they still expect the straw-fired cyclone furnace to be commissioned in August/September 1984 at the Chalk Drying Plant of Needham Chalks Ltd., near Ipswich, and what contribution the plant is likely to make towards reducing the burn-up from the 1984 cereal crops on agricultural land in the district.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Gray of Contin)The plant should be commissioned in November. It is expected to use 2,000 tonnes of straw a year, which represents about 20 per cent. of the supply available in the immediate catchment area. I hope that this plant, which is supported by the Energy Efficiency Office under the Energy Efficiency Demonstration Scheme, will lead to others, with a long-term energy saving worth over £2 million a year.