§ Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smithasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Communities' Council of Energy Ministers on 13 July.
§ Mr. LawsonThe Council of Ministers—Energy—met on 13 July.
Sir Donald Maitland, permanent under-secretary of state at the Department of Energy represented the United Kingdom.
The Council discussed recent developments in the energy markets and reviewed the progress made by all member States in reducing dependence on imported oil and in more efficient use of energy. The Council reaffirmed this strategy. The Council saw no evidence that the more relaxed oil market was leading to any slackening of effort towards achieving the Community's agreed goals.
The Commission is to report to the next meeting of the Council in November on the outcome of its sectoral studies on the application of pricing policies.
The Council adopted recommendations on further efforts to achieve a more rational use of energy, including arrangements for the Commission to monitor progress. These recommendations emphasise the importance of applying sound energy pricing policies. The United Kingdom delegation welcomed this and stressed the need for the Commission to use realistic indicators in assessing progress.
The Council adopted conclusions on nuclear energy. These underline the conviction that nuclear energy can make a greater contribution to the electricity needs of the Community as well as the economic advantages which industry can derive from nuclear energy through lower costs.
The Council agreed to make a fresh attempt to devise a Community strategy for coal. I welcome this initiative, which I hope will lead to practical recognition of the long term importance of coal production on an economic basis within the Community.