§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to promote energy from landfill gas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory[holding answer 15 January 1990]: Government policy is that all renewable energy sources should be exploited where economically and environmentally acceptable. The Government through the Department of Energy are funding a major programme of research into landfill gas with a contract value over £1 million. This includes work to optimise the extraction of gas from landfill sites and increase the understanding of the biological processes which generate gas. There are 30 such schemes currently operating in the United Kingdom and over 30 at the construction or planning stage.