§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether, pursuant to his answer of 11 March,Official Report, column 359, to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), he has any proposals to change the criteria he uses in considering the granting of consent for new gas-fired combined cycle power stations under (a) section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 or (b) the Energy Act 1976; if he will consult the Director-General of Ofgas in such considerations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThere are currently no proposals to change the criteria for the Secretary of State for Energy's consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct new gas-fired generating stations. The Government are aware that the EC directive restricting the use of gas in generating stations was repealed on 18 March 1991. We therefore intend to repeal the powers relating to the use of natural gas in power generation contained in section 14 of the Energy Act 1976 at the earliest legislative opportunity. In the interim period, the Government will continue to exercise those powers in a manner consistent with previous practice.