Energy Research

HC Deb 25 March 2002 vol 382 cc689-90W

Ms Shipley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Government have spent on energy research and development in each year since 1997. [45175]

Mr. Wilson

Government expenditure on energy research and development since 1997 has been in the fields of sustainable energy and nuclear fusion and is set out in the table.

£ million
	Sustainable energy research:
	DTI programme	Research councils	Fusion research
Expenditure
1997–98	13.0	2.9	16.6
1998–99	11.3	3.1	12.6

£ million
	Sustainable energy research:
	DTI programme	Research councils	Fusion research
1999–2000	12.5	2.4	14.3
2000–01	13.1	2.8	14.3
Provision
2001–02	18.5	5.5	14.3
2002–03	19.0	7.0	14.3

Publicly funded research into nuclear fission reactors stopped in 1994. The Health and Safety Executive co-ordinates a nuclear safety research programme funded by the relevant nuclear licensees.