HC Deb 28 February 1983 vol 38 cc8-9
8. Dr. M. S. Miller

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the United Kingdom's energy requirements are met by the following means (a) coal, (b) oil, (c) nuclear, and (d) other; and how this compares with France, the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States of America.

Mr. Lawson

In 1981, 37 per cent. of United Kingdom inland energy consumption was met from coal, 35 per cent. from oil, 23 per cent. from gas and 5 per cent. from nuclear and hydropower. I shall circulate figures for the other countries in the Official Report.

Dr. Miller

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Is he sure that the proper proportion of energy requirements met by coal will be maintained in Britain? Does he have any plans for the use of coal other than for burning?

Mr. Lawson

The figures that I have given and the figures that the hon. Gentleman will see circulated in the Official Report show that the proportion of our total energy consumption from coal is higher than in the countries mentioned in the hon. Gentleman's question. However, coal's future depends overwhelmingly on the performance of the coal industry. If it can make its way, be competitive and cut costs, it has a great future.

Sir Dudley Smith

Is not the right answer that there should be an amalgam of these various fuels? Will my right hon. Friend note that it is nonsense that a substantial number of people who are only 7 miles from Coventry are unable to obtain a gas supply? Will he try to do something about that?

Mr. Lawson

My hon. Friend is right on his last point. One of the tragedies is that the monopoly of the British Gas Corporation over many years brought gas exploration in the North sea practically to a halt—at one point it was brought completely to a halt—while North sea oil exploration was going ahead fast. Happily, now that that monopoly has been broken by the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act, exploration for gas in the North sea is growing rapidly.

Following is the information:

The latest (1981) figures for the breakdown of energy requirements are as follows
Per cent. Shares
Coal Oil Gas Nuclear Other (Hydro)
France 16 54 12 15 3
Germany 33 45 16 5 1
USA 22 43 27 4 4

Source: Statistical Office of the EC December 1982 Monthly Bulletin on Electrical Energy US Energy Information Administration—Monthly Energy Review January 1983.