§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effect on the United Kingdom's commitment to meet the targets of the 1988 large combustion plant directive of the refusal by PowerGen to retrofit flue gas desulphurisation—FGD—technology to 4,000 MW of capacity; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanPlanning consent has been granted for PowerGen to retrofit 2,000 MW of capacity at Ratcliffe and work is well underway. PowerGen's application for consent to retrofit another 2,000 MW of capacity, at Ferrybridge, is still being considered by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
The United Kingdom intends to meet the reductions required by the large combustion plants directive by a range of measures, including the retrofitting of FGD, the use of alternative fuels and the construction of new, cleaner plant. My right hon. and learned Friend has the power to direct Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to require the fitting of FGD in a particular case if he considers it appropriate.