HC Deb 30 November 1990 vol 181 cc519-20W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the recent decisions taken and matters reviewed at the energy research and development sub-committee of the European Communities scientific and technical research committee; which United Kingdom civil servants participate in the committee; and what matters concerning United Kingdom energy decisions are expected to be taken at future energy sub-committee meetings of CREST.

Mr. Moynihan

The energy sub-committee, on which my Department represents the United Kingdom, of the European Communities scientific and technical research committee (CREST) gives advice to CREST on the technical scope of the non-nuclear energy sub-programmes of the framework programmes. It has recently been reviewing the possible scope of the non-nuclear energy sub-programme under the third framework programme.

The work undertaken under the non-nuclear energy sub-programme of the third framework programme is anticipated to give rise to information which will better inform the United Kingdom's and other member states' understanding of the energy scene.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on United Kingdom participation on the non-nuclear energy management and co-ordination advisory committee of the European Communities; which British officials have participated in the committee since its inception; and what advice on wave power programmes has been given by United Kingdom representatives to the committee.

Mr. Moynihan

The committee of an advisory nature on the non-nuclear energies sub-programmes of the framework programmes advises on the implementation of these sub-programmes, not on their technical scope; the non-nuclear energy sub-programmes under the first and second (the current) framework programmes did not include wave power within their scope.

An energy sub-committee, on which my Department represents the United Kingdom, of the scientific and technical research committee (CREST) is currently advising upon the technical scope of the proposed non-nuclear energies sub-programme of the third framework programme. The United Kingdom has informed the Commission of its current review of wave energy and has supported the view that wave projects should be eligible for consideration under the sub-programme.