§ Mr. JanmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much public money has been spent on plants sponsored by his Department investigating the120W manufacture and use of refuse-derived fuel pellets; if he will list the performance figures from those plants; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will list such private sector research of which he is currently aware into the manufacture and use of refuse derived fuel pellets; and if he will undertake a comparative study between their findings and data from plants sponsored by his Department.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryAbout £12 million has been spent by my Department between 1974 and 1986 on pilot schemes for the manufacture and use of refuse-derived fuel pellets. The results have been published by the Warren Spring laboratory, for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible. Technical problems have now largely been solved, but further work is needed on marketing. Any comparison of these results and private sector research results would be a matter for prospective purchasers of equipment.