§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the future of the coal-firing scheme.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI attach great importance to keeping energy costs to industry to a minimum and have therefore decided to extend the deadline for receipt of applications for grants under the coal-firing scheme to the end of June 1987. The £75 million ceiling on total grants304W offered will no longer apply; I will make funds available as necessary to cover this extension. The exchange risk guarantee scheme on loans from the European Coal and Steel Community for coal-firing projects will be discontinued as from 31 December 1985 though of course companies will still be able to take advantage of the attractive terms of the loan facility itself.