asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the current level of expenditure in the United Kingdom on research and development into photo-voltaic energy.

At present the Department of Industry is committed to the expenditure of £620,000 to assist research and development into photo-voltaic energy devices in a number of United Kingdom companies. There is also research funded by the Department of Industry concerned with applications of photo-voltaic cells in Space amounting to some £60,000. Further investment in photovoltaic energy projects is being made by the universities, aided by the Science and Engineering Research Council, and by industry. No figures are available for the total expenditure.