§ Mr. Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the meeting of the Council of Energy Ministers in Luxembourg on 25th October 1977.
§ Mr. Benn:The EEC Energy Council met under Belgian Presidency in Luxembourg on 25th October. At this meeting Ministers adopted three recommendations on the rational use of energy, and reached agreement on Community support measures for technological projects in the hydrocarbons sector, on Community arrangements for reducing the consumption of energy in the event of oil supply difficulties, and on Community surveillance of imports of coal originating in non-EEC countries.
In discussions on two other coal proposals, designed to encourage construction of power stations to burn coal and to give aid to finance coal stocks, the United Kingdom emphasised the need for the Community to support its indigenous coal industry. However, no agreement was reached on these proposals, and it was decided that the Council should return to the subject at its next meeting.
There was also discussion on the situation of the Community's refining industry 262W and on a proposal for aid for demonstration projects in the field of energy saving, on both of which discussions will be continued.