asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action he has taken to implement the proposals in the Helsinki Final Act to organise co-operation between the signatory powers in the use of energy resources, including petroleum, natural gas and coal and the rational use of power stations.

The Final Act of the Helsinki Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe considers that the field of energy resources, in particular petroleum, natural gas and coal, is suitable for strengthening long-term economic co-operation, and that there is the possibility for joint projects including the exchange of electrical energy within Europe with a view to utilising the capacity of electrical power stations as rationally as possible. As emphasised in the Final Act there is already much work done by relevant international organisations and it was the wish of all signatories to take advantage of the possibilities offered by these organisations, and particularly by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) for giving effect to the provisions of the final documents of the Conference. The United Kingdom already participates fully in international co-operation in the areas mentioned and Her Majesty's Government has been co-operating with the Secretariat of the ECE in its efforts to pursue further international collaboration on suitable projects.