HC Deb 07 December 1988 vol 143 cc193-4W
2000. Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the proportion of the future supply of electricity he expects to be generated under the terms of the Energy Act 1983 in(a) 1990, (b) 1995 and (c)

Mr. Michael Spicer

My Department does not publish such estimates. Experience of the energy market has shown that changes in the future composition of energy production cannot be forecast with any certainty.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will consider amending the Energy Act 1983 to ensure the appropriate firm safeguards are required of future aspirant power generating companies to provide(a) security of the power supply, (b) high standards of pollution control and (c) financial security and propriety.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Clause 15 of the Electricity Bill will impose an obligation to supply on the public electricity suppliers, instead of the generators as now. Privatisation will make no difference to the environmental standards which the electricity industry has to meet. It will be required to meet United Kingdom emissions standards and will be subject to an amenity obligation similar to section 37 of the 1957 Electricity Act. Clause 3 of the Electricity Bill gives the Secretary of State and Director General of Electricity Supply a duty to secure that licence holders are able to finance the carrying on of the activities which they are authorised by their licences to carry on.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the approaches that have been made by his Department in(a) 1986, (b) 1987 and (c) 1988 to the Central Electricity Generating Board to encourage the implementation of competition in electricity generation as envisaged in the Energy Act 1983.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The CEGB is fully aware of its statutory responsibilities under the 1983 Energy Act.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to the number of new electricity generating units that(a) have been introduced or (b) are planned to be introduced as a consequence of the Energy Act 1983.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The number of private generators selling to area boards has almost doubled from 59 to 103 since the 1983 Energy Act. We are aware of some 16 new proposed private generation projects which would total over 6GW of new capacity; most of these have come forward since the Government's intention to privatise the industry was announced.