HC Deb 13 March 1991 vol 187 cc505-6W
Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he has given to the need to make available to new entrants to the industry, sites with an established use for electricity generation which are redundant or no longer in use and which are currently owned by electricity generating companies.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

Schedule 3 to the Electricity Act 1989 provides for the compulsory acquisition of land by electricity licence holders for licence-related purposes.

Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will issue a direction to require generating companies holding land on which are redundant, closed or demolished power stations to release that land where requested to prospective new entrants to the generating industry at a price to be agreed by an independent agency; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

I have no such power. The disposal of land held by generating companies is a matter for their commercial judgment, subject to the compulsory purchase provisions in schedule 3 to the Electricity Act 1989.

Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the number and total area in hectares of sites in the ownership of(a) National Power and (b) PowerGen on which electricity generation activity has ceased and which are being retained by those companies;

(2) how much land which has at any time been used for electricity generation but which is not being used for power generation purposes is held by (a) National Power and (b) PowerGen in Warwickshire.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

These are commercial matters for each company.

Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many closed power station sites there are in Warwickshire; and what is the present ownership and status of each of these sites.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

As far as my Department is aware, there is only one former power station site in Warwickshire. Details of the ownership and status of that site are commercial matters for the company concerned.

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