The point is that, if we are to make up the deficit caused by increasing demand here at home, the cornering of supplies by China - it is now buying several oilfields around the world - and the loss of our own domestic resources, a definite solution to the Looming Power Crisis and action by the Government are needed now.

My Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord, Lord Teverson, is right in theory that, if CCs can be made to work, it will be the means of continuing to burn oil, gas and coal in a low-carbon way and thus preventing the Looming Power Crisis that seems all too likely in the near future, but would not my noble friend agree that, in fact, it is impossibly expensive and that the technique of storing in North Sea oilfields is slightly dubious and not fully proven?