§ Mr. Andrew Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Communities Council of Energy Ministers on 22 May.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI represented the United Kingdom at this meeting.
The Council agreed that there should be a transfer of 60 mecu—£36 million—from the EEC budget in 1984 to the ECSC budget. This money will help to fund readaptation aid for the coal industry under article 56.2 (B) of the ECSC treaty and will be used to help meet the existing costs of assisting miners affected by fundamental changes in the coal industry. Officials from the Department of Energy will be meeting urgently with the European Commission to discuss prospective support for the United Kingdom. I expect the United Kingdom will receive about half of the funds transferred.
580WThe Council agreed that 50 mecu —£30 million—with leeway to increase by a further four mecu in 1984–85 of the 265 mecu—£157 million—set aside for energy demonstration projects in 1983–85 should be spent on coal liquefaction and gasification. The Commission noted that, taking into account expenditure on coal combustion under a second broader regulation, support for coal from the energy demonstration projects scheme should amount to no less than one third of the total.
The Council also agreed to make further progress during the Irish presidency on Community support for investment in indigenous economic coal production.
Papers on energy saving and natural gas were also considered. Further work will be undertaken at the next Council.