§ 42. Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what further action he plans to take in order to increase his departmental contribution to alleviating the greenhouse effect.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerMy Department has effective research and development programmes in energy efficiency and renewable energy. There is to be a new campaign to improve energy efficiency within Government and the public sector generally. Electricity privatisation will encourage greater efficiency, will maintain the level of non-fossil generation and will encourage the introduction of new, more efficient and less polluting technology including CHP and combined cycle gas turbines.
Such actions, alongside funding of some of the work of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, are prudent now. When scientific understanding of this complex topic improves we, in conjunction with the wider international community, shall be in a position to undertake further appropriate action.