To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total amount per annum of dry weight biomass available for combustion to produce electricity; and how much of this fuel source is currently used in the United Kingdom.

The extent to which biomass can be made available for electricity generation depends on the arrangements made for its collection and combustion and their economics. Energy Paper 55, published by my Department estimated that biomass could contribute between 4 million and 15 million tonnes of coal equivalent per year to United Kingdom energy supplies by 2025. In principle all this could be used for electricity generation. Current utilisation is estimated to be about 0·8 million tonnes of coal equivalent per year.