§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Industry when his plans for an expanded Government research and development programme of solar energy will be announced.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe Department of Industry is currently supporting research aimed at improving the performance and substantially reducing the cost of photovoltaic solar cells used for terrestrial purposes. It is also supporting a member of staff at the Solar Energy Unit at Cardiff University in order to provide a source of advice and information on the potential value to industry of developments in solar energy. The Department has no plans to increase its level of expenditure in this area, but proposals for research will be treated on their merits, using the same criteria the Department uses for all its R and D expenditure in support of industry. At the present time some discussions are in hand with industrial companies on possible submissions to the Department's research requirements boards.