§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has commissioned, or has planned, on the role of nuclear power, energy conservation and renewable energy sources in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and the greenhouse effect; if he will list any such studies which have been published and place copies in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Department is currently considering what further studies would be timely and appropriate on all aspects of responses to the issue of greenhouse gas emissions. This will take into account the role of the working group on responses recently set up by the UNEP/WMO Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change. We will certainly build on the expertise available at the Building Research Establishment on energy conservation in buildings, and on the extensive energy efficiency and renewable sources programmes run by the Department of Energy.