§ Mr. Joseph Deanasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether the heat pump project for cheap and efficient space heating in houses produced by the Lucas Aerospace workers can be fully supported, in line with the Energy Technology Support Unit's recent report on that matter;
(2) whether his Department will provide support for several of the Lucas Aerospace combine shop stewards committee's corporate plan proposals for energy saving equipment such as the 225W natural gas-powered heat pump and the hybrid power pack for transport, which cuts fuel consumption by 50 per cent. and toxic emissions by 80 per cent.
§ Mr. EadieI welcome the initiative of the Lucas Aerospace combine shop stewards committee in formulating a corporate plan. If we receive specific proposals for research and development projects from Lucas Aerospace, these will be carefully considered for Government support by the appropriate Departments. In correspondence with the Lucas Aerospace combine shop stewards committee, I have stated that my Departmbent will be pleased to receive proposals for energy R and D projects from the Centre for Alternative Industrial and Technological Systems which the committee has set up at the North-East London Polytechnic and will consider whether they are suitable for funding under the terms of our R and D programmes.