§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the number of gas turbine power stations now under construction and the number planned.
§ Mr. BaldryThe timing of the construction of any new gas turbine power station is a matter for the company concerned.
My right hon. Friend has granted his consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for the construction and operation of the following gas turbine stations:
Killingholme "PowerGen", PowerGen plc Humberside. Killingholme "A", National Power plc Humberside. In addition, my Department is aware of four other new gas turbine stations where the necessary permissions were obtained from local planning authorities under town and country planning legislation before section 36 came into effect.
My right hon. Friend is currently considering applications for his consent under section 36 to construct and operate the following gas turbine stations:
Little Barford, National Power plc Bedfordshire. Rye House, PowerGen plc Hertfordshire. Wilton, Teesside Power Co. Ltd. Cleveland. Shotton, Deeside Power Clwyd. Development Co. Ltd. Keadby, Energy Resources Ltd. Humberside. Plymouth, PowerGen plc Devon. Staythorpe "C", National Power plc Nottinghamshire. Rugby, Rugby Power Co. Ltd. Warwickshire. He has also been notified under regulation 6 of the Electricity and Pipe-line Works (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1990 of the intention by Texaco Ltd. to apply for consent under section 36 to construct and operate a gas turbine station at Pembroke, Dyfed and from Coryton Cogen Ltd. to construct and operate one at Coryton, Essex.
My Department has also been advised, in confidence, of several other proposals for new gas turbine generating stations. It will be for the companies concerned to decide when to make public details of these proposals.