§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what European Community grants or loans are available for increasing coal use in member states for advancing district heating and for deriving energy from industrial and domestic waste.
§ Mr. Giles ShawUnder the European Community's energy demonstration projects regulations, financial aid is available for categories which include coal gasification and liquefaction; substitution of hydrocarbons with solid fuels; and district heating. The Energy Council is considering proposals in relation to solid fuels, and a draft regulation to subsidise interest repayments for loans granted by Community institutions in support of district heating, conversion of boilers to coal-firing, coal handling facilities and energy from waste. Under article 54 of the treaty of the European Coal and Steel Community, the Commission provides loans in support of coal use.