§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the(a) desirability and (b) feasibility of internalising the environmental and societal externalities of energy production. [3009]
§ Mr. BattleThe Government share with other member countries of the International Energy Agency the goal that, to the extent necessary and practicable, the environment costs of energy production and use should be reflected in prices. The Government are also concerned about the social implications of changing patterns of energy production, though they believe that there are better ways of responding to such concerns than distorting market prices.