§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to make grants available to persons who wish to convert their existing heating and domestic systems to peat in place of gas or electricity.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThere are at present no grants available for the conversion of domestic heating systems from one fuel to another. My Department has supported research into peat as an energy source, but has no current plans to introduce grants for conversion of existing domestic systems to peat burning.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will carry out a study of the quantities of peat which are available in all areas of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithA considerable amount of information is available on the quantity and potential utilisation of peat in the United Kingdom. For example, the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research in Aberdeen is responsible for a soil survey in Scotland, which includes a systematic survey and classification of peat lands. The North of Scotland Hydro Electricity Board is also undertaking studies of the potential for peat burning in power stations.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of the employment that could be generated in rural areas, he will assess the case for designating peat as an alternative source of energy, in the light of the extensive stocks in the rural areas of Scotland.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe value of peat as a local energy source is already recognised in the United Kingdom and in the European Community. Benefits from the increased utilisation of peat could arise from the recently announced European Community energy demonstration programme to promote the substitution of hydrocarbons by solid fuels including peat.