HC Deb 23 July 2002 vol 389 cc890-2W
Llew Smith

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals in support of increasing the use of renewable energy he intends to present to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg; and what recent representations he has received in support of renewable energy. [72297]

The Prime Minister

The UK supports agreement at the World Summit on Sustainable Development on a range of measures to support the increased use of renewable energy, including removing harmful subsidies for the use of fossil fuels, setting a global target for the use of renewable energy, and enhanced international co-operation on research and development and market reform. The Government are investing over £260 million in the development of renewable power over three years, in addition to the work of the Carbon Trust and others active in this field. As a result of the spending review the DTI will he announcing further investment in renewable technologies.

I have received over 400 campaign cards from members of the public supporting a campaign by Greenpeace and the Body Shop to provide renewable energy to the two billion people currently without access to energy.