§ Mr. Frank CookTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is(a) remit and (b) time scale of the Government's review of renewable energy policies; [11455]
(2) which civil servants are dealing with her Department's review of renewable energy; [11457]
(3) which (a) Government Departments and (b) other organisations her Department is consulting in its review of renewable energy policies; [11456]
(4) how and when information from her Department's review of renewable energy policies will be made publicly available. [11458]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 30 July 1997]: I have established an interdepartmental review group, led by my director of the energy technologies directorate of the DTI, to report in the autumn on new and renewable energy policy options. The review will consider what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of the UK's electricity needs from renewables by 2010 and how renewables can make an effective contribution to meeting requirements for future gas reduction commitments.
I am consulting colleagues in other Government Departments with interest in renewables, including the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices; the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Treasury. The review will provide an input to the comprehensive spending review and the UK's climate change programme. I will consider wider consultations with the renewable trade industry trade bodies and other interested bodies in the autumn in the light of options resulting from the review.
The outcome of the review will be published in 1998.