To ask the President of the Board of Trade what efforts are currently undertaken by his Department to encourage the development of biogas schemes and smaller hydroelectric schemes.

My Department's renewable energy programme aims to stimulate the development of renewable sources of energy which have prospects of being economically competitive and environmentally acceptable. The non-fossil fuel obligation is stimulating an initial market. Biogas and small scale hydro are being supported under both the research programme and the non-fossil fuel obligation.