§ Mr. Palmerasked the Secretary of State for Energy what action his Department is taking to assess scope for technological research in the energy field.
§ Mr. VarleyIt is part of the continuing work of my Department to keep under review research in the energy sector; to
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§ Mr. EadieStatistics for 1973 are tabulated below:
assess its adequacy in the light of changing circumstances; and to identify the technological options open to the United Kingdom in this area.
Recent events in the energy sector have underlined the importance of this work, particularly in respect of energy conservation and energy supply from new sources. I have therefore reviewed the 211W resources available in my Department for this purpose and have concluded that immediate reinforcement is required. I have accordingly arranged with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority that the work of a team of scientists and engineers at Harwell—to be known as the Energy Technology Support Unit —will be made available to me to help with this assessment work in the nonnuclear field.