§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the total expenditure in each of the last five years upon research and development for generating electricity from all renewable resources.
§ Mr. MellorThe renewable energy resources with potential for electricity generation on which research has been funded by my Department are wind, wave geothermal hot dry rock, tidal and low-head water power.
Total expenditure in these areas by my Department over the past four years has been as follows:
Outturn prices (incl. VAT) £ millions FY 1978–79 2.0 FY79–80 4.0 FY80–81 6.3 FY81–82 (forecast) 10.8 I regret that the figures for 1977–78 could not be extracted without disproportionate cost.