§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1990,Official Report, column 304, to the hon. Member for Thanet, South (Mr. Aitken) whether, in the light of the volume of extraction of peat in the Flow Country, and of the studies conducted for his Department, he will make it his policy to discontinue the use of peat, other than for local domestic use in traditional areas; and if he will set out the policy conclusions for his studies.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe final studies undertaken on behalf of the Department of Energy concerning the potential use of peat as a fuel particularly in relation to Scottish peat resources have now been concluded. My Department does not regard the use of peat as an industrial fuel to be an economic proposition. However the use of peat for any potential application now commands widespread environmental concerns. The findings of these latest studies will be published shortly and include much information on Scottish peat resources which should greatly assist future environmental assessment studies. The Government fully recognise the desirability of preserving peatlands and are actively considering the ways of resolving the apparent conflict between peat extraction and conservation issues.