Energy elegy. For the Government: Secretary of State for Energy Tony Benn answers questions set by Caroline Weinstein

This year is an important for the future of Britain's energy supplies. Research in alternative, renewable energy sources has been stepped up, but has it been stepped up enough? North Sea oil production has started to make an impact on fuel imports, but what will happen when it runs out? This is also the month when the Nuclear Power Company and the Nuclear Inspectorate are due to report their assessments on s.g.h.w.r., a.g.r. and p.w.r. power stations to Mr. Benn. His decision on which to order should follow swiftly after. This is the first in a series of interviews in which Elecrtonics & Power tries to find the answers to some of these questions.