Former MP for Ross and Cromarty
A memorandum on this subject prepared by the Central Electricity Generating Board for the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities, together with oral evidence by representatives of the board in May 1982, was published in the Committee's 16th report, Session 1981–82, of 29 June 1982.
I agree with the hon. Gentleman, who has great experience in these matters, that they cause concern. However, acid rain is an international question, and the CEGB and the Government are fully prepared to play their part in the necessary research on the subject. We should not jump to conclusions too quickly. Much has been said and written about it, but there is still relatively little...
Nuclear-powered stations are undoubtedly very much less subject to environmental pollution — [Interruption.] Hon. Members can argue about it until they are blue in the face—and they will have to remain blue in the face for a long time after the next election.
The point is well and truly taken. The Government will give every consideration to the best method of proceeding along those lines.
Yes, that is the case, and I remind my hon. Friend that the United Kingdom spends £4 million, of which half is spent by the CEGB, on research into the effects of acidification.
That is a completely different question. I was asked about environmental matters and gave the view that nuclear power was undoubtedly less of an environmental hazard than some of the other methods that we have at present.
That is a very interesting point. The discovery that was made in Czechoslovakia shows that, environmentally, nuclear power is very much cleaner.
No. Present depletion policies have served us well by giving the oil industry the freedom and confidence to develop the resources of the North sea to the economic benefit of the nation. The tax and royalty concessions announced in the Budget will further encourage the new development that we need.
