HC Deb 19 January 1981 vol 997 cc18-9
50. Mr. Hooley

asked the Lord Privy Seal what will be the approximate disbursements of official aid in the current financial year for development of energy resources as between coal, oil, gas, nuclear and renewable sources of energy.

Mr. Neil Marten

Details of expenditure for the current financial year are not yet available.

Mr. Hooley

Does the Minister agree that developing countries with few or no assets in the form of hydrocarbons could find that renewable sources are extremely important, namely, solar, wind and tidal power? Will he give an assurance that that will be reflected in the balance of the aid programme that relates to energy help?

Mr. Marten

I think that that will be the case. Disbursements of project aid on energy projects in 1979 amounted to £34 million, about three-quarters of which went to non-renewable power projects, and the remainder to renewable projects. I hope that that will continue.