§ 9. Mr. Alportasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations of the Ridley Committee with regard to improvements in industrial fuel utilisation; and whether he is in a position to make a statement.
§ 16. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to increase industrial fuel efficiency services, create a greatly increased fuel efficiency advisory service, amplify financial arrangements for industrial fuel economising plants and encourage training in fuel technology, all in accordance with Recommendations Nos. 17, 18, 19 and 21 of the Ridley Report.
17. Colonel Clarkeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give any information as to the arrangements being made to expand or supplement the Ministry of Fuel and Power Audit Service for factories and commercial buildings.
§ 22. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on the action he is taking on the recommendations of the Ridley Committee on Industrial Fuel Economy.
§ The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)Yes, Sir. On Recommendations Nos. 17, 19 and 20, referring to fuel efficiency advisory services, I have set up a small committee of the main industrial interests concerned to work out a scheme for an organisation of the kind recommended.
On Recommendation No. 18, concerned with technological training, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education is prepared to assist, and details are under consideration.
On Recommendation No. 21, I am in consultation with other Ministers on the possibility of amplifying the loan scheme for approved fuel saving installations.
With regard to Recommendation No. 22—the extension of industrial shift working—and No. 23 the efficiency of stokers—my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour has agreed to discuss the first with his National Joint Advisory Council, and on the second has brought to the notice of both sides of certain industries the urgent need for promoting maximum efficiency in stoking, and they are giving the matter their careful attention.
On Recommendations Nos. 33 and 35, relating to charges and conditions for electricity supplies when private plant is also used, the electricity boards announced their general acceptance of the recommendations on 5th January.
§ Mr. AlportWhen does my right hon. Friend expect that the result of the committee's work on the industrial fuel efficiency advisory service will be available?
§ Mr. NabarroIn view of the fact that the Report of the Ridley Committee took 16 months to compile and we have had this Report now for five months, is it not rather unsatisfactory that yet one more committee is being brought into being to say how this industrial fuel advisory service is to be conducted? Can my right hon. Friend tell the House unequivocally that this committee will report within a month and that when the report is to hand we shall get some urgent and dynamic action without another two years' delay?
§ Mr. LloydI think that in a matter in which we require to get the co-operation of a considerable number of diverse industrial interests, the most practical procedure is to get people to agree and not to issue rather dictatorial decrees.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIn connection with these proposals for improved fuel efficiency, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the need to do something about the problem of air pollution in such areas as London and other large industrial towns, because the one thing links up with the other and there is a need for co-ordination?
§ Mr. LloydThe two things do link up and, as a previous holder of my office said, they go quite a part of the way together; but not all the way.
Colonel ClarkeArising out of my right hon. Friend's reply specifically to Question No. 17, which related to the Ministry of Fuel and Power Audit Service for factories and commercial buildings, would he consider making use of the consulting engineers, the fuel distributors and appropriate trade associations in that connection?
§ Mr. LloydYes, Sir. We have already made use of trade associations, as hon. Gentlemen opposite know. I think this would be particularly a matter for the industrial organisation when it is set up, but I imagine that they would want to adopt that course.
§ Mr. RobensIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that within his Ministry now, with the publication of the Ridley Report, he has all the information he wants to enable the Government to produce a proper fuel and power policy?
§ Mr. LloydI think we need the cooperation of the interests who would have to take on the job of the organisation recommended by the committee.
§ Major Anstruther-GrayHow soon does my right hon. Friend think he will achieve a really effective saving of fuel by the action which he is now proposing to take?
§ Mr. LloydThe hon. and gallant Gentleman will probably recollect that it has been shown previously that savings are being made all the time. In the debate last year I showed that very large 11 savings of coal were being achieved by the increased efficiency of electricity generation, for example.
§ Mr. NabarroIn view of the several unsatisfactory aspects of the answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.
§ 19. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the terms of reference of the committee set up by the National Productivity Council to deal with industrial fuel efficiency; what relationship this committee has to the recommendations of the Ridley Committee; what functions will be performed by Sir Hubert Houldsworth, Mr. Bertram White, Mr. Byron Smith, Mr. Jenkins and Sir Lincoln Evans; and why representatives of the oil, gas and electricity supply industries have been excluded.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydI set up this committee for the purpose of working out a scheme to implement the Ridley Committee's recommendations for an increased industrial fuel efficiency service. The main interests concerned are represented and in the interests of speed I kept the committee as small as possible.
§ Mr. NabarroIn view of the composition of the committee is it not pertinent to ask whether Sir Hubert Houldsworth, Sir Lincoln Evans and other distinguished gentlemen of that calibre have not enough work to do already without being called to sit upon what appears to be an unnecessary further committee?
§ Mr. LloydNo, Sir. It was because I attached considerable importance to the work of this committee that I asked these distinguished gentlemen to serve on it, and I am very grateful to them for doing so.