HC Deb 02 April 1974 vol 871 cc1091-2
Q6. Mr. Rost

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between Ministers concerned with energy conservation.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Rost

Why are those Government Departments responsible for construction —whether it be schools, hospitals, local authority buildings or nationalised industry—still building with the most appallingly wasteful standards of thermal insulation? Will the new Department of Energy accept responsibility for coordination and give directives for real energy conservation in our new buildings?

The Prime Minister

I told the hon. Gentleman on similar questions last week that I thought that he was raising matters of not only great importance but of much greater importance in the present energy situation. The question of thermal insulation is being carefully studied, as are various means of encouraging it. It would be helpful if the hon. Gentleman would take up these matters with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and with the other Departments concerned. I know that the hon. Gentleman has done a lot of work on this matter—work that will be very useful to my right hon. Friend. As there was an earlier Question about the CPRS, I should add that as members of the previous Government know, it has done a valuable amount of work on energy, including the question of thermal insulation.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

Does my right hon. Friend agree that one of the results of such co-ordination may be the extension of the electrification of British Rail ways?

The Prime Minister

That is a matter which will come up to the Departments. My hon. Friend can pursue the matter with those Departments.

Mr. Tebbit

In the matter of co-ordination to conserve energy, will the Prime Minister ask the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection to conserve her energies by refraining from transferring Questions to other Ministers on one day, transferring them back to herself on the next—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member has already raised that matter. It does not arise out of the Question.

Mr. Ashton

In order to conserve energy and petrol supplies, will the Prime Minister tell the Chancellor of the Exchequer that British motorists would far rather see the abolition of the £25 road fund tax and that that tax be placed on petrol, so that owners of Rolls-Royces pay far more than owners of Minis for running their motor-cars?

The Prime Minister

This matter has often been considered in the past. We all remember the efforts of the former hon. Member for Worcestershire, South, Sir Gerald Nabarro, on this question. There were many arguments about the effect on exports of making cars of a particular size. This matter will be kept continuously under review in relation to future Budgets.