§ Mr. StunellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total level was of Government financial support to the renewable energy sector in each year between 1980 and 1990 broken down by(a) research grants, (b) non-fossil fuel levy and (c) other sources. [27456]
§ Mr. WilsonMain Government financial support for the renewable energy sector between 1980 and 1990 was in the form of research grants from the then Department of Energy's New and Renewable Energy Research and Development Programme. Programme spend was as follows:
£ million 1980–81 11.1 1981–82 17.3 1982–83 14.1 1983–84 11.3 1984–85 14.1 1985–86 12.7 1986–87 11.6 1987–88 14.3 1988–89 15.3 1989–90 17.2 1990–91 20.4 During these years, the Government may also have funded some other relevant research projects managed by the research councils, but to identify these projects now would be difficult and would involve disproportionate cost.
The Non Fossil Fuel Obligation and the Fossil Fuel Levy supporting it were introduced in financial year 1990–91. In 1990–91, levy support for renewable energy was £6.1 million. I am not aware of funding for renewable energy from other Government sources from 1980 to 1990.
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§ Mr. CarmichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the projects and institutions benefiting from the Lottery money announced by the Government in March 2001 for research into renewable energy projects. [25888]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 15 January 2002]: Funding from the Lottery is being directed especially towards the development of the offshore wind energy and energy crops industries. The offshore wind energy scheme is now open for applications and we are presently working up the details of the energy crops scheme. No funds have yet been awarded under either scheme.