HC Deb 17 December 1973 vol 866 cc945-6
41. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what new instruction he has given to members of his Department for the saving of electricity.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

My Department has instructed all Government Departments, including the Civil Service Department, to apply strictly the restrictions on the use of electricity announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. All staff are being instructed accordingly.

Mr. Dalyell

Can the Minister assure us that the life style of civil servants in relation to matters of electricity is not different from that of the rest of us?

Mr. Baker

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that civil servants will not receive any special treatment, either up to 30th December or in the régime that operates in the New Year. I should like to emphasise that civil servants will work with electricity for three days and for the remaining days offices will have to stop when it gets too dark or when they cannot continue their work. As there is some feeling that there will be special exemptions for the Civil Service, I should like to emphasise that there will be few exemptions and that such exemptions as are made will be made entirely for essential public work or for services to the public and not for the convenience of civil servants.

Mr. Sheldon

That was a serious statement. Does the Minister mean that those offices that have no natural light facilities will find themselves having to stop work early as the result of fading light? How does that apply to the Department of Employment, which will be particularly concerned with its problems, and the Pay Board, which may be similarly placed? Will not the hon. Gentleman give them exemptions? On the general question, what does he intend to do about the minimum heating regulations that are laid down for the service?

Mr. Baker

The heating question is covered by the order which is already in force. Heating which is oil-fired, coal-fired or gas-fired will be permissible up to a certain temperature. Heating fired by electricity will not be permitted at all. I emphasise that working hours in the Civil Service will not be treated any differently from those of clerical workers in industry.