HC Deb 16 February 1981 vol 999 cc26-7W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when his Department was requested to investigate the possibility or advisability of producing alcohol from potatoes, sugar beet and cane sugar; who made the request; and what action has been taken in this connection.

Mr. John Moore

On the recommendation of the Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power, my Department decided in 1977, as part of its research programme into renewable energy sources for the United Kingdom to commission desk studies on the feasibility of producing alcohol for fuel from potatoes, sugar beet and cane sugar. These studies have indicated that the processing of these crops for alcohol fuel is unlikely to be economic in the United Kingdom. My Department is, however, keeping a watching brief on international developments in this field.