§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Energy how much money his Department is spending in the current financial year on the sponsorship of research and development on improved methods of extracting energy from the following primary sources: oil, natural gas, shale oil, coal, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, tidal power, hydro-electric power, wind power and solar power.
§ Mr. EadieThe gross amounts which my Department and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority are estimated to be spending in the current financial year on research and development on improved methods of extracting energy from primary sources are:
Oil Nil Natural gas Nil Shale oil Nil Coal £50,000 Nuclear fission (in support of power programme) £92 million Nuclear fusion £7 million Hydro-electric power Nil Alternative energy sources (including tidal power, wind power and solar power) £330,000 These figures reflect my Department's financial responsibilities and do not include spending by other Departments and by nationalised and private industry.