§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether at the recent energy conference the possible use of solar energy was considered, including experiments conducted by some industrial firms, and with what result.
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, the World Energy Conference held in Istanbul last autumn discussed renewable sources of energy, including solar energy. Experiments conducted by industrial firms were not considered at the conference. I will ensure that a summary of those parts of the proceedings which are relevant to solar energy is sent to my noble friend and a copy placed in the Library of the House.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, I am obliged to my noble friend for that Answer. Is he aware that, according to the Press reports, no reference was made to solar energy at that conference? I could find no reference. In particular no mention was made about experiments being conducted in a certain part of the United Kingdom, which I need not mention because I have no interest in the matter personally, except a public interest. Does my noble friend appreciate that every device, every expedient, however speculative or potentially expensive it might be, must not be ignored, because it may make a worthwhile contribution to the abundance of energy this country will require in the future?
§ Lord STRABOLGIYes, my Lords, I agree with my noble friend. Indeed the Government have accepted that 200 alternative sources of energy should be vigorously pursued. With regard to the conference, the position of solar energy in the United Kingdom was reviewed in this country's contribution to the World Energy Conference. It has been estimated that the use of solar energy for water and space heating is the area of greatest potential in the United Kingdom, and by the year 2,000 we believe that this might produce savings of 4 to 5 million tons of coal equivalent in the domestic sector and a possible further contribution from the industrial and commercial sector.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, can my noble friend tell me and the House what expenditure the Government propose to make as a contribution to some of these experiments? In a periodical, I saw recently some reference to the sum of about £2 or £3 million over the next four, five or six years; but is that sufficient for the purpose? Can we be assured that the Government are considering the possibility of finding adequate finance within the limitations imposed upon us because of our situation?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, the total planned Government expenditure on solar energy research and development is £6 million over the period 1977 to 1981. The Government will not hesitate to expand the programme if progress on the work being done indicates that this is necessary.
§ The Earl of LAUDERDALEMy Lords, could the noble Lord tell the House whether the Government will consider greatly expanding the sums of money available for research by the National Coal Board, which is likely to be far more profitable than solar energy?
§ Lord STRABOLGIYes, my Lords, certainly. They are not really always comparable of course, because we have a very large research and development investment in nuclear power, but the cost of research is much less than the cost of development, which is the stage we have reached with nuclear fission, as the noble Earl is well aware.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether this is not tremendously important on a world scale? 201 Would not the development of solar energy be one of the solutions to the problem of the Southern hemisphere which is now impoverished and which would have great solar capacities?
§ Lord STRABOLGIYes, my Lords, I agree with my noble friend. We are cooperating internationally and we are in touch with work in other countries, many of which have greater solar potential than the United Kingdom.
§ Lord MOYNEMy Lords, will Her Majesty's Government consider promoting research into the use of solar energy for desalinisation of sea water, which could be of such immense importance to and regions within the Commonwealth?
§ Lord STRABOLGIYes, certainly, my Lords, I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Moyne. A good deal of work in this field has been done in Israel. I will see that the noble Lord's point is passed on to my right honourable friend.
§ Lord LOVELL-DAVISMy Lords, is my noble friend aware of the intense interest felt in the building and construction industries concerning the future of solar heating? Has any action been taken by the Departments of the Environment and Energy to encourage the installation of solar panels or to give fuller information about it, simply as an effective method of saving energy? Is not a clearer governmental view, a statement of intent, required for the guidance of interested parties?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, much of the expenditure in the Department of Energy's research and development programme is for jointly funded contracts with industry to develop industrial initiatives. In addition, of course, there is very valuable work which is done by industrial finance itself.