§ Mr. LeadbitterTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if his proposals for the privatisation of the electricity industry will include any policy on a power station construction programme responding to environmental needs; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement on the power station construction requirement over the next 20 years; what numbers are expected to be nuclear, gas, oil and coal fuelled; how he expects these to be determined under privatisation; and how he expects environmental considerations and the greenhouse effect to play a part in the programme.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe CEGB envisages that 15.5 GW of new generating capacity will be required in England and Wales by the end of the century. The demand for new plant is expected to increase early in the next century as existing power stations reach the end of their operational lives. Following privatisation, the size and type of new power stations required to meet demand will be a matter for the privatised industry. The CEGB's present plans include the commissioning of four PWRs by the year 2000. Nuclear stations do not contribute to acid rain and have the potential to make an important contribution to containing he United Kingdom's carbon dioxide emissions. However, the impact of the United Kingdom's power stations alone on the worldwide greenhouse effect is small Any new coal-fired power stations would need to be fitted with modern emission control equipment to the requirements of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.