HC Deb 18 January 1993 vol 217 cc34-5W
Mr. Colvin

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to quantify the external costs of each form of electricity generation.

Mr. Eggar

Last December my Department published an independent report on environmental and other social costs of different methods of electricity generation.

The report, commissioned by the former Department of Energy and entitled "The Social Costs of Fuel Cycles" is the work of a team from the Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment (CSERGE), led by Professor David Pearce of University college London. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

My Department is also currently supporting the participation of the Energy Technology Support Unit in a joint European Community/USA study to develop a methodology for assessing the external costs of fuel cycles. Phase I of this study is nearing completion: phase II is expected to commence during 1993.