asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he accepts the forecast of the Energy Commission that there will be an annual requirement for energy supplies in the United Kingdom in the year 2000 which will be 120 million tonnes of coal equivalent in excess of supplies available from United Kingdom energy sources; and what action is planned to close this gap.

The Energy Commission itself has made no forecasts of energy supply or demand. The Working Document on Energy Policy prepared by the Department of Energy and considered by the Commission on 28th November contained estimates that, on the assumptions specified, United Kingdom demand for energy in the year 2000 might lie in the range 450–560 million tons of coal equivalent (mtce) and that indigenous energy supplies might comprise 475–515 mtce. A copy of the document is available in the Library. I intend that the Commission should assist in developing strategy for the energy sector of the United Kingdom.