HC Deb 11 June 1980 vol 986 cc229-31W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total sum that the United Kingdom has received during

£'000s at outturn prices
1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 (provisional)
From the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSQ—
Towards supplementary payments to elderly redundant mineworkers … … 2,000 3,305 2,644 4,897
Towards pit closures … … 1,000 1,540 1,016 2,076
From the ECSC for special steels projects for offshore installations … … — 402 382 7
From the European Community under the European Regional Development Fund—
for British Gas Corporation … … — 1,292 455 1,443
for Electricity Council … … — 1,503 1,199 817
From the European Community for nuclear R&D … … 2,326 2,656 4,032 5,362
Total … … 5,326 10,698 9,728 14,602

The British Gas Corporation has received the following grants from the European Community under the European social fund :

£000's at outturn prices
1976 89 1977 554
1978 580 1979 254

Financial assistance is also provided from the European Community budget direct to United Kingdom companies and other bodies for energy projects but figures for the total sums received are not available. Appropriations from the European Community budget to United Kingdom bodies under such contracts include the following as loans

£000s at outturn prices
1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 (provisional)
NCB(by ECSC) … … … … … 63,000 94,000 163,000 140,000
Electricity Council (by European Investment Bank)* … … … … … 26,200 95,900 100,500 112,800
British Gas Corporation (by European Investment Bank) … … … … … 26,000 — — —
* Not including loans to the Scottish Electricity Boards.

each of the past four years from the European Commission and its agencies in respect of energy projects ; and if he will specify the general categories involved.

Mr. David Howell

The following amounts were accounted for on the Department of Energy's Votes :

repayable in the event of commercial exploitation :

EEC energy saving demonstration projects £1,700,000.
Community projects in the hydrocarbons sector £19,600,000.*
* after deduction of sums in respect of projects subsequently withdrawn

Grants to support uranium exploration in the United Kingdom amount to £810,000. Information on some contracts for energy research and development is included in" Energy Research and Development Programme : Status Report 1979, Vols I and II "published by the Commission of the European Communities in February 1979.

The following loans have been made to nationalised energy industries by Community institutions :

In addition, a loan of £5,000,000 was made to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. by the European Investment Bank in 1978–79.

Back to