§ 13. Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the importance of gas in the UK's future energy needs. [128953]
§ Mrs. LiddellGas plays, and will continue to play, an important part in meeting the UK's energy needs. In 1999, gas accounted for 33.2 per cent. of UK primary energy requirements; and, from within that total, gas generation accounted for 38.5 per cent. of electricity supplied. A working paper produced by my Department suggests that the contribution of gas to primary energy demand in the year 2020 will be of the order of 47.5–49.2 per cent., and its share of fuel used for electricity generation to be in the range 57–64 per cent..