§ Mr. Robert C. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has to encourage local authorities in North-East England to investigate further, and where possible introduce, district heating schemes and to give financial support for such schemes.
§ Mr. John MooreMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy announced on 2 April a programme of work to test the feasibility of combined district heating and power generation in specific locations. The city of Newcastle upon Tyne and Tyne and Wear county council are amongst those local authorities which are participating in this programme. Information from this work will enable judgments to be made on the desirability of providing funds and on the scale of involvement by central and local government and other bodies.