HC Deb 22 February 1977 vol 926 cc559-60W
Mr. Macfarlane

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what work on alternatives to the conventional sources of energy in the United Kingdom his Department is currently assessing, whether carried out by the National Research Development Corporation or otherwise under his sponsorship; and what he estimates to be the cost for each project during the next year.

Mr. Les Huckfield

Projects are being sponsored or examined dealing with sodium-sulphur batteries, solar cells, refuse-derived fuel, and wind-energy machines. The cost to the Department in 1977–78 is expected to be about £300,000. The National Research Development Corporation is involved in projects concerning wind, water, and solar sources of energy; the details are commercially confidential.