asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will report on progress made on plans for combined heat and power schemes as an economic use of energy; what information he has about the operation so far of the lead city scheme; and whether any such schemes have been discontinued or are proposed to be discontinued.

The three cities selected for grant assistance under the lead city scheme have made considerable progress in their feasibility studies on CHP/DH. The Belfast and Edinburgh consortia are due to complete their studies this spring. The Government have now received the report from the Leicester consortium who are considering how best to take their project forward. There are no plans to discontinue any of the schemes in these lead cities.