§ 10. Mr. Roweasked the Secretary of State for Energy if his Department is involved in any initiative to encourage the recycling of waste to create energy.
§ Mr. David HuntMy Department has already spent over £500,000 on research and development in this area and has committed a further £4.5 million to demonstration projects on refuse-derived fuels and waste combustion. We are also collaborating with the United States on research and development into the use of wastes as fuel under the bilateral memorandum of understanding signed by my right hon. Friend and the United States Secretary of Energy, Donald Hodel, on 18 October.
§ Mr. RoweI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Will he give an assurance that where local authorities have schemes for using this method of heating his Department will consider grant-aiding the technology required?