§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has decided not to reconvene the Flowers commission to study conservation and efficiency in energy use.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Government's views on the relationship between investment in energy conservation and in supply are fully set out in our response to the Select Committee on Energy's report on the nuclear power programme—Cmnd. 8317, July 1981.
Whilst the Government fully recognise the importance of examining conservation and efficiency in energy use, they do not believe that it would be appropriate to reconvene the commission on energy and the environment for a special study in this area.
We shall continue to look for advice to the Royal Commission on environmental pollution and to the Advisory Council on energy conservation where appropriate.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the present position on the recommendations of the Flowers commission report on coal and the environment, specifying particularly the actions already taken on various sections of the report.
§ Mr. Giles ShawMy right hon. Friend is currently considering all the many recommendations in the commission's report and will announce his conclusions as soon as possible.