Fawley B Power Station (Hansard, 27 October 1988)

§ Mr. Parkinson

[pursuant to the reply, 13 June 1988, c.31]: On 3 February 1988 the Central Electricity Generating Board applied for my consent under the Electricity Act 1909 to construct a coal-fired generating station at Fawley in Hampshire. The board was required to advertise this application, following which I received some 4,000 objections to it, including ones from the relevant local planning authorities. A public inquiry into the application is therefore necessary. Since the application to construct the generating station was made the Government have announced their plans for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry and have been preparing for its precise implementation in consultation with the industry.

The CEGB has told me that, in its assessment of future electricity demand and the needs of the industry, it believes that Fawley B is needed. However, after privatisation, the decision whether the power from the station is needed will rest with the distribution companies who will succeed the area boards. In the CEGB's view Big "G", who will own and operate Fawley B if it is built, will not wish to proceed with the station unless he has assurances from the area boards that they wish to take the power from it. Discussions between the generation and distribution sides of the industry are in progress, but the area boards are not yet in a position to give the assurances sought.

Against that background the CEGB feels that it should not proceed with the application until the area boards are in a position to give definite assurances and has therefore asked that the public inquiry arrangements should not be made for the time being.

After careful consideration I have decided that I will not proceed for the present with the public inquiry arrangements, but I have asked the CEGB to let me know by 1 May 1989 whether it wishes to proceed with the application or to withdraw it. Should the CEGB tell me that it wishes to proceed, in order to ensure fairness to all concerned, I will require it to readvertise the application so that any person, who is not already registered as an objector, will have the opportunity so to register.

In the circumstances, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has decided that the board's present application to him for an order to be made under the Harbours Act 1964 in respect of a jetty associated with the generating station should not proceed further, although if next year the CEGB indicates that it wishes to proceed with the power station application, he recognises that this would be likely to be accompanied by a fresh application under the Harbours Act 1964.