§ 5. Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to respond to the third report of the Energy Committee, H.C. 314, 1982–83, on combined heat and power.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithAssessment of this report is almost complete, and my right hon. Friend hopes to respond as soon as possible.
§ Mr. RostAs my right hon. Friend will be aware, a number of the most promising urban areas, such as Sheffield, London and Tyneside, are anxious to proceed with full feasibility studies so that they can prove the cost effectiveness of providing cheap heat and overcome fuel poverty. Will my right hon. Friend not just speed up the assessment of the report, but give guidance to those local authorities and private enterprise industries which want to go into partnership with local authorities and the electricity supply industry on how the financing and the institutional structure can be organised?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThis is a very important matter, in which the Government are extremely interested. We have had a study carried out by W. S. Atkins, which looked into the use of these schemes in cities, and so on. We are studying the report of that consultancy as well. It is sensible to look at the two together. As soon as we have completed our study of them, we shall make the announcements.