§ Mr. Philip Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Severn Barrage Committee; and what action he has taken since as a result.
§ Mr. John MooreAs I stated in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) on March 5, I received an interim progress report from the Severn Barrage Committee earlier this year. I will consider what action is appropriate when I receive a further report which the committee expects to prepare later this year.
§ Mr. Philip Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee; and what action he has taken since as a result.
§ Mr. GrayThe Offshore Industry Liaison Committee is not an advisory committee. The Minister of State for Energy is chairman and the members are the leaders of oil company and contractors associations and trade unions involved in the offshore supplies industry. The committee normally meets twice a year to review the progress of the industry and identify problems being encountered. It last met in November 1978, but is due to meet in June this year.
§ Mr. Philip Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Offshore Energy Technology Board; and what action he has taken since as a result.
§ Mr. GrayMy predecessor received a detailed paper setting out the Offshore Energy Technology Board's advice on the strategy to be pursued in supporting research and development in the field of offshore oil and gas technology. This was accepted as Government policy and the document was published as Energy Paper No. 8 in 1976. Since then the chief scientist, who chairs the board, has defined the Department's programme in line with528W this strategy and with the continuing advice of the board.
§ Mr. Philip Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power; and what action he has taken since as a result.
§ Mr. John MooreI last received written advice from the Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power (ACORD) in July 1979, in respect of my Department's annual review of the Electricity Council's R & D programme. The action I took on receiving ACORD's advice was to write to the chairman of the Electricity Council, on aspects of its proposed programme.
§ Mr. Philip Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Advisory Council on Energy Conservation; and what action he has taken since as a result.
§ Mr. John MooreThe third report of the Advisory Council on Energy Conservation was published on 2 October 1979 as Energy Paper No. 40. This wide-ranging review provided useful guidance and its many recommendations are being carefully considered by the Department responsible for implementing energy conservation policy. I intend to reply formally to the report in due course.
§ Mr. Philip Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Advisory Committee on Fixed Offshore Installations; and what action he has taken since as a result.
§ Mr. GrayThe Advisory Committee on Fixed Offshore Installations last met in April 1979. Following this meeting I received two written communications on the constitution of the Burgoyne committee. The chairman of the committee resigned during June 1979, since when there has been no further activity. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) on 21 March regarding the future of this committee.—[Vol. 981, c. 341.]