asked the Secretary of State for Energy what studies he has made concerning an increase in the ethyl alcohol content of motor fuel, with a view to reducing the oil import bill; what conclusions he has reached; and whether he will make a statement.

My Department has had the advice of two working parties which were set up earlier in the year to examine the technical and economic factors relating to the use of methanol and its homologues as constituents of blends of petrol. They have advised that there would be no benefit to the oil import bill in the short term, and in the longer term North Sea oil will be available.