To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2007, Official Report, column 336W, on Energy Technologies Institute: Wales, in what ways the Welsh Energy Research Centre fell short against the selection criteria; and whether he expects there to be opportunities for the Welsh Energy Research Centre to collaborate with the Energy Technologies Institute in the future. (142442)

The submissions to host the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) Director were considered in confidence by a group of representatives of the industrial and public sector funding partners. The group has already indicated that it will provide feed-back to those organisations which made a submission, if they so request.

There will be opportunities for energy research organisations to engage in the research activities of the ETI as the technical priorities begin to emerge over the course of the year.