§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Industry when research or problems relating to the effective production and use of electrically propelled cars and buses will be completed sufficiently for pilot production to start; when he expects research in pilot production to have progressed to a stage when production on an industrial scale can start; what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on encouraging production; and what financial resources are set aside or earmarked for this purpose.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldCommercially viable car production is not yet in sight and I have had no proposals for such development from industry. Two proposals for batch production of buses are currently under consideration. Pilot (batch) production of battery electric delivery vans has commenced and will continue for three or four years in association with comprehensive proving and demonstration programmes, before larger scale production becomes feasible. We are also supporting work on advanced electric batteries.