§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is their view that market forces will be sufficient to reduce consumption of coal-derived electricity as part of the Government's anti "greenhouse" policies, and if so whether they will cite the studies which support this view?
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy (Baroness Hooper)I have little to add to the reply given by my noble friend the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment on 11th October 1988 (Official Report, cols. 869–870).
Climatic change is a complex and developing subject, and the extent to which energy production and use contribute to the threat is not yet clear. The Government are urgently considering the issue, in concert with our international partners.