asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the present level of expenditure on the fluidised bed combustion system.

Department of Energy expenditure in the financial year 1982–83 is estimated to be about £3·5 million, the greater part being on the experimental IEA pressurised fluidised bed facility at Grimethorpe.Private industry and the National Coal Board are also investing substantial sums in the research, development and industrial exploitation of fluidised bed technology.