§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government will be taking to ensure the completion of the flue gas desulphurisation fitting programmes(a) at Drax power station and (b) at Radcliffe power station, and the use of FGD at these power stations.
§ Mr. AtkinsUnder part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, a condition may be included in the authorisation for a power station, to require its operator to install FGD and to run it whenever that power station is operated, provided that to do so would not be excessively costly and that there is no other preferable technique of preventing or, failing that, minimising and rendering harmless releases of sulphur dioxide, having regard to costs and efficacy.
As I indicated in answer to the hon. Member on 22 November, Official Report, columns 66–67, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is currently in discussion with the generators about their generating operations and improvement programmes for each station.