§ Mr. Denis MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives his Department is taking to promote clean coal technology. [106935]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Government's policy on cleaner coal technologies is set out in Energy Paper 67: "Cleaner Coal Technologies—Future plans for research, development and export promotion", which was published in April 1999. The promotional activities that my Department has initiated as part of the policy set out in Energy Paper 67 includes
initiating a portfolio of research and development projects in collaboration with UK industry and universities (R&D projects are being supported following an annual call for proposals. Details of the call process are available on the DTI website);undertaking a DTI led mission to China with UK industry in September 1999 to promote UK expertise (A further DTI led mission to India will take place in September this year);publishing an export directory and a series of capability brochures on UK expertise in cleaner coal technologies; andpublishing a number of reports on the technology status of cleaner coal technology and the financing the development of the technologies.Copies of Energy Paper 67 are available in the Libraries of the House and on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk/ent/coal), together with other publications arising from the programme. The DTI website is being used to help promote UK capability in cleaner coal technologies and provide up to date information on developments in the DTI programme.