§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is(a) the direct and (b) the indirect effect of the agreement reached at the recent Joint European Energy and Environment meeting on European Communities energy policy on the United Kingdom (i) nuclear programme and (ii) renewable energy programme.
§ Mr. MoynihanMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment explained on 17 December 1991, at columns104 and 105, that the agreement reached at the recent joint session of the Energy and Environment Councils was to invite the European Commission to put forward formal proposals for measures to limit carbon dioxide emissions in the Community, including any necessary proposals for Community-wide taxation taking account of further studies and the conclusions of separate discussions by Finance Ministers. No such formal proposals have yet been made by the Commission. It is therefore premature to comment on the effect which any such proposals might have on the United Kingdom's nuclear and renewable energy programmes.