§ Sir Trevor SkeetTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the electricity supply industry reduces the loss of electricity in transmission and promotes increased research into superconductivity.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerTransmission and distribution losses are discussed regularly with the electricity supply industry, which seeks to keep such losses to the economic minimum. The industry's research proposals are considered each year by my right hon. Friend's Advisory Council on Research and Development. The current research programme includes work on superconductivity and various other techniques for reducing system losses.