Following the privatisation of the energy industries in the United Kingdom, which had begun some ten years earlier, the department was abolished in 1992.
The core activities relating to UK energy policy were transferred back to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
[3] Work funded or part-funded by the department included investigations into Geothermal power and the Severn Barrage[4] Colour key (for political parties): Politicians: Conservative Labour Junior ministers included Peter Morrison (Minister of State in 1987) and Patrick Jenkin.
The Ministry of Fuel and Power was created on 11 June 1942 from functions separated from the Board of Trade.
It took charge of coal production, allocation of supplies of fuels, control of energy prices and petrol rationing during World War II.