§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current cost of research into (a) new fuel sources, (b) new methods of mining or otherwise developing existing fuel sources; and what are the Government's intentions with regard to the extent and cost of such research in each of the next three years.
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§ Mr. EadieThe estimated total public sector United Kingdom annual expenditure on energy R and D in 1974–5 was £134.5 million. Of this about £0.4 million was on new—non-nuclear—energy sources and £74.5 million on new and improved technologies of energy production, conversion, transmission and distribution, including £4.7 million on such technologies in coal mining and processing. Provisional estimates for the current year are rather higher. No over all figures for the next three years are available.