§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Energy what investigations or research have been carried out into the feasibility of processing bracken for use as fuel.
§ Mr. David HuntUnder my Department's biofuels research and development programme, a study has been350W carried out by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Merlewood, Cumbria on native and naturalised species of plant as potential energy crops. Publication of a report on this work is expected shortly.
The area has also been reviewed by my Department's energy technology support unit—ETSU publication R35 "The potential for catch crops and native vegetation as fuel in the United Kingdom". A copy of this report has been deposited in the Library of the House.