§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the relationship between trends in the output of nuclear energy generated and the United Kingdom's CO2 obligations. [4850]
§ Mr. PageGovernment policy is to ensure that the United Kingdom meets its commitments under the framework convention on climate change which it ratified in 1993. Emission of carbon dioxide, the most important greenhouse gas, are expected to be 6 to 13 million tonnes of carbon below their 1990 level by 2000. Projected increases in electricity generation by nuclear power stations are estimated to contribute savings in emissions of 2.9 million tonnes of carbon in 2000.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to promote long-term generic research into nuclear energy. [4851]
§ Mr. PageThe Government believe that the generation of energy using nuclear fission is a mature technology and consequently that future research in that area should be funded by industry. The Government continue to support research into nuclear fusion as part of the European Union programme.