To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list her Department's current programmes for research into clean coal technology; and if she will make a statement. [1008]

My Department's research on clean coal technology is being undertaken in seven programme areas:

• Coal Exploration and Extraction
• Coal Preparation
• Coal Handling and Supply
• Coal Combustion in Conventional Utility Power Generation
• Advanced Power Generation
• Other Coal Conversion and Utilisation Processes
• Technology Transfer and Commercialisation

Projects covering the seven programme areas are undertaken in collaboration with industry, universities and a number of overseas organisations. The results are disseminated via published project summaries and technical reports, including seminars, workshops and conferences. An annual report and newsletter is also published on developments in all the programme areas. The present phase of the programme is due to be completed in 1998.A mid-term evaluation of the programme by an international panel of experts was undertaken in 1996 and a report of the evaluation published in July 1996. Industry provided evidence to the international panel which indicated that the programme benefits are a mixture of gross and net effects ranging from firm export orders and potential future sales of components, innovative mechanisms to reduce NO, emissions, techniques to use more UK coals in steel making, etc., they do show the programme has been of significant value to UK industry. We are examining what other options there may be to support clean coal technology.