asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money is being spent on research into the development of methane from sewage and dustbin refuse.

The money spent on research into processes which could produce methane from domestic refuse was £43,000 in 1973–74 and projected expenditure for 1974–75 is £103,000. Methane produced from sewage treatment is already used extensively as a source of energy in sewage works. The Water Research Centre and the individual regional water authorities have an ongoing programme of research into ways of improving the efficiency of treatment processes.