§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give an estimate of the amounts of Government or nationalised industry expenditure on energy research and development projects, distinguishing between expenditure through public bodies and private institutions, and separating the heads of expenditure into the following categories (a) nuclear, (b) electricity, (c) coal, (d) gas, (e) oil, (f) solar, (g) tidal, (h) geothermal, (i) wind, (j) wave and (k) other.
§ Mr. EadieGovernment and nationalised industry expenditure on energy research and development in 1977–78 is estimated to be about:
£ million (a) Nuclear 133 (b) Electricity 47 (c) Coal 32 (d) Gas 25 (e) Oil 15 £k (f) Solar 3 870 (g) Tidal 20 (h) Geothermal 180 (i)Wind 65 (j) Wave 1,020 (k) Other 570 It should be noted that (1) the total Government commitment to renewable sources of energy is currently about £16 million and this will be increased as is justified by the progress made; (2) the 984W nuclear and electricity figures are interdependent; the nuclear expenditure is largely aimed ultimately at electricity generation and the electricity expenditure includes some nuclear expenditure; (3) the expenditure of the nationalised coal, gas and electricity industries includes some on alternative sources of energy, (4) the figures do not include United Kingdom contributions to and returns from the EEC; (5) a breakdown of expenditure between public bodies and private institutions is not available.
Information on energy research and development expenditure is given in my Department's annual report on research and development, the latest issue of which was published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office as Energy Paper Number 28. A copy is in the Library of the House.