Energy Perspectives for the UK

Abstract

Energy policy has become an important feature of government in the UK. A consultative document on Energy Policy (cmnd 7101) was issued in February 1978. This was the first such document for a long time—in fact, since the discussions on energy policy in 1966 and 1967, the outcome of which seemed to reduce the enthusiasm of government for energy policy statements. An Energy Commission has now been set up, papers have been prepared and made public, including the minutes of the Commission’s meetings. Even prior to this, and coincidental with the Energy Conference set up by Mr Tony Benn in 1976, was a document on R&D strategy (Energy Paper No. 11). Annual reports on the R & D programmes are now published regularly. We have had the Windscale Inquiry and a statement by Mr Peter Shore that similar Inquiries, possibly with some features reflecting the experience of the Windscale Inquiry, but reviewing particular proposals in relation to the whole, will be a regular part of the development of national energy policy. Thus, there is now a great deal more information than for some years and it is therefore appropriate that a paper on energy perspectives should centre on the Energy Policy Consultative Document (EPCD).