§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Energy why it took over 18 months between the completion of the research, and; the publication of the Energy Paper 16, "Solar Energy: its potential contribution within the United Kingdom".
§ Mr. EadieThe report by the Energy Technology Support Unit surveyed the potential contribution of solar energy in the United Kingdom and made recommendations for research and development. These recommendations were fully considered by the Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power and other Government Departments before my Department's research and development programme was finalised taking account of current work in this field.
Because the exploitation of solar energy covers and involves many technical disciplines, this work took some time. Energy Paper Number 16 contains some updating and was ready for publication late in 1976. It was considered appropriate to publish it at the same time as the announcement of the programme.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Energy which Departments 504W are represented on the Interdepartmental Steering Committee on Solar Energy Research; and if he will report regularly on its activities.
§ Mr. EadieThe Departments participating in the work of the Solar Energy Steering Committee are as follows
Department of the Environment,Department of Energy,Department of Industry,Ministry of Defence,Ministry of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food,Ministry of Overseas Development,together with the Science Research Council.It is the intention to publish significant information from the solar energy programme.