§ Mr. Masonasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the progress of all Government Departments in implementing the Government's energy policy objective of reducing the United Kingdom's longer-term dependence on oil; what part the coal firing scheme has to play in fulfilling this objective; and with what results so far.
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§ The Prime MinisterIn line with the Government's objective of ensuring that all economic forms of energy are produced, supplied and used as efficiently as possible, the coal firing scheme encourages industry to reduce energy costs by converting to coal from more expensive fuels such as oil.
By the end of November 1985 the scheme had created over 2.5 million tonnes of annual coalburn, mainly at the expense of oil. In the light of the success of the scheme the Government have decided to extend the deadline for receipt of applications to the end of June 1987.