§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy what amount of money the Government have spent, over each of the past three years, on a national research programme for the development of low-cost energy from coal; and if he will make a statement on the kind of co-operation that is taking place between the United Kingdom, the EEC countries, and the United States of America, on this kind of research.
§ Mr. EadieThe national research effort on energy from coal is predominantly in the hands of the nationalised energy industries and no direct Government expenditure has been incurred during the last three years. The Government have recently joined the National Coal Board in the funding of the United Kingdom contribution to a joint project with West German and the USA on pressurised fluidised bed combustion. The NCB has an agreement with the US Government agencies providing for the exchange of information on coal mining and utilisation.
In addition the British Gas Corporation is developing coal gasification at its Westfield Development Centre under the sponsorship of US interests and with the participation of the Lurgi Company of West Germany.
There is a good co-ordination of coal research effort of the European Coal and Steel Community. About one third of the current NCB research and development programme is financed through ECSC contracts.