Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the feasibility of using overseas-based concentrated solar power plants to help the UK to meet its long-term energy requirements.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government have not made any assessment into using overseas-based concentrated solar power plants to help the UK meet its long-term energy requirements. However, the economics, in particular the amounts of energy required, to justify the investment in the High Voltage Direct Current link required needs more work. There would need to be a massive source of surplus electricity to make this worthwhile and considerable investment.