§ Mr. BlairTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if his Department has any plans to research into magnetohydrodynamics as a means of reducing sulphur emissions from coal-fired power stations.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerMagnetohydrodynamics is not considered to have sufficient promise to justify the substantial funds required to develop it. The advanced coal based generators—such as pressurised fluidised bed and the integrated coal gasification combined cycle generators—reported in Energy Paper 56 (a copy of which is in the Library of the House) are considered preferable and sufficient to meet United Kingdom requirements.