§ 11. Mr. KnoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the level of spending in the United Kingdom on research into alternative sources of energy in the current financial year.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerAbout £16 million has been allocated from my Department's research and development budget in the current financial year for alternative sources of energy. An estimated £4 million from external sources is also expected. In addition, it is estimated that between £10 million and £15 million will be spent by private industry on its own research and development programmes.
§ Mr. KnoxWhat plans do the Government have for the future development of renewable energy sources? Can my hon. Friend say which are the front runners?
§ Mr. SpicerThe energy paper I announced in the House on 20 June gives our strategy for the future of renewable energy. In that paper we say that fuel from waste and energy from wind and tidal sources are the most promising. Each of those could provide up to 3 per cent. of our total energy requirement by the year 2025.