§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what investigations into alternative sources of energy are being conducted in Wales; what progress these are making; and if he will make a statement;
£ million 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 Wind 0.5 0.3 1.3 0.3 0.6 0.8 0.9 2.5 2.5 4.8 Wave 1.8 3.0 3.3 4.4 3.1 1.0 0.4 Geothermal aquifers 0.2 1.3 1.7 2.6 1.5 1.8 1.1 Geothermal hot dry rocks — — 0.6 5.6 3.0 2.9 4.6 Solar 0.2 1.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 0.9 0.5 Biomass — 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.3 0.2 Tide — 0.6 1.4 0.4 — — 0.3 ETSU services 0.7 1.2 1.1 1.4 2.2 2.3 2.0 1.9 2.1 TOTAL *0.5 *1.0 *2.5 3.6 8.2 11.2 17.3 14.2 11.3 14.0 * Includes energy conservation research and development. No information available for 1974–75.
416W
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to the reply, 10 March, c. 366]: The records held in my Department show that in the period 1980–85 there were 30 casualties to ships in the areas referred to and a total of nine vessels sank, as follows:
Location Total Casualties Total sinkings Total Tonnage Pentland Firth 5 2 92 Minch 6 2 44 Little Minch 8 3 106 Sea of the Hebrides 5 1 18 North Channel 6 1 68 None of the vessels which sank was a crude oil-carrying tanker.
The information on ships requesting assistance is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the following table lists the number of ships recorded by Her Majesty's Coastguard, actually requiring assistance in the coastguard regions mentioned.
(2) if he will set out the present studies into alternative sources of energy, the amount of Government funding of each one and the manner of progress of each one; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will increase Government funding of research into alternative sources of energy.
§ Mr. David HuntA detailed account of the alternative energy technologies we are examining as part of our research and development programme, details of individual projects, their progress and the prospects for their exploitation in the United Kingdom is given in ETSU R28, R30 and N3/85. Copies of the first two reports are already in the Libraries of the House. I am placing copies of the third report, a register of research and development projects in the Libraries of the House today.
Total expenditure by my Department is currently running at an average of about £14 million per annum. Actual expenditure on the individual technologies from 1975–76 to 1984–85 was as follows:
417WThe Government have identified the most promising alternative energy technologies, and increased support is being given to their research and development.