§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to make the UK economy less dependent on imports from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries; and if she will make a statement. [179764]
§ Mr. TimmsThe UK is currently a net exporter of oil and oil products, and, largely due to geography, imports relatively little oil from OPEC countries. However, the UK is expected to become a net importer of oil by 2010 and the Government therefore recognise the need to take a longer term strategic international approach to energy1458W security. This approach is outlined in the 2003 Energy White Paper, "Our Energy Future—creating a low carbon economy", available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/index.shtml. The aim is not to reduce dependence on OPEC per se, but rather to promote more diverse sources of supply, fuel types and trading routes and to put in place policies that will help ease the economy away from power supplied primarily through fossil fuels as well as bringing about reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.