HL Deb 17 October 1984 vol 455 c1074WA
Lord Ironside

asked 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.