§ Lord HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
What amounts of public money have been expended on research into each of the main sources of energy (currently available or to be developed in future) during 1971–72 and each subsequent 195WA year for which figures are available, and what are the proposed research expenditures on each energy source for the current year and future years.
§ Lord STRABOLGIThe information
Actual Estimated 1973/74 1974/75 1975/76 1976/77 £m £m £m £m Coal 5.6 6.5 16.0 23.9 Gas 8.0 9.1 15.2 19.6 Nuclear 68.1 78.7 109.0 127.1 Electricity* 25.0 28.5 35.3 47.6 Offshore oil and gas and alternative sources (such as wave power and geothermal energy 1.9 4.1 6.8 11.5 *This expenditure covers work on fossil fuel plant, nuclear plant, and alternative energy sources carried out by the electricity supply industry. The expenditures shown are for national programmes. Consolidated expenditure on a comparable basis for years before 1973/74 is not readily available. Information for the nationalised industries and UKAEA for earlier years can be obtained from their annual reports and accounts.