§ Mr. Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress his Department is making in research and development into the utilisation of geothermal energy.
§ Mr. EadieThe Department of Energy's Energy technology support unit has looked into the utilisation of various alternative forms of energy including geothermal energy and a report entitled "Geothermal energy: the case for 587W research in the United Kingdom" is being published today. After consideration of this report the Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power has recommended a three-year programme of geological and related studies which it is now the Department's intention to implement. The total cost of this is estimated to be £840,000. Partial funding has been applied for from the European Commission as part of the EEC's geothermal research and development programme.