HC Deb 20 January 1975 vol 884 cc997-1000
6. Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce his further proposals for energy conservation.

7. Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he proposes to announce additional measures to conserve energy.

8. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what further plans he has for economising in the use of energy resources.

Mr. Varley

I am today launching a major publicity campaign to bring home to consumers the need to save energy and to explain how they can do it. I shall be bringing forward further proposals to extend and reinforce my energy-saving programme at the appropriate time.

Mr. Rost

While welcoming the Government's belated repentance after years of dilly-dallying, and the restoration of the previous Conservative Government's campaign to conserve energy by pub- licity, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman does not agree that voluntary restraint while it is essential, will not be enough? Has he seen the excellent report just published by the National Economic Development Office which contains first-class recommendations? When shall we see real proposals in the short, medium and long term?

Mr. Varley

The hon. Gentleman has referred to the Conservative Government's "Switch Off Something" campaign. That was designed to encourage people to cut off electricity and was motivated by the industrial action at that time. The major publicity campaign on which we are embarking will be a sustained campaign and directed not only at electricity but at all forms of energy.

As to the second part of the supplementary question about the National Economic Development Office report by Dr. Eden, I have studied that report and it does not conflict with the measures which I announced on 9th December. Dr. Richard Eden is a member of the Advisory Council on Energy Conservation which I set up last year.

Mr. Hamilton

Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that he will not be introducing such radical proposals as cleaning one's teeth in the dark? Will he give some kind of direction to commerce, shops and other people to stop the continuous night lighting of their premises? Does he appreciate that nobody on this side of the House accepts the philosophy of rationing energy by the purse and that if there is to be rationing it ought to be rationing physically rather than financially? Finally, can my right hon. Friend say what steps he is taking to encourage individuals and commercial concerns to improve the insulation of their premises?

Mr. Varley

I agree very much with my hon. Friend that much more can be done. Direct energy consumption under Government control represents only 1 per cent., and it depends on what can be saved in the household and in industry. With regard to rationing by the purse, I am sure my hon. Friend will also accept that rationing by coupon does not necessarily mean cheap petrol or cheap energy.

Mr. Grylls

I thank the Secretary of State for the advance copies of answers to Questions before Question Time. I only wish that his Department were as prompt in saving energy as he is in sending answers before Question Time.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the country would take him and the Government seriously in saving energy if the Government set an example in switching off floodlighting on public buildings and actually reducing the temperature of schools and other sorts of public buildings much more dramatically than is now done? I hope that the right hon. Gentleman's announcement will mean action this day and not tomorrow.

Mr. Varley

As I said on 9th December, the Government are not so proud as to believe that their measures are necessarily the best. This is a very complex issue. The only way to save energy dramatically is by rota cuts and rationing—in short, misery. While some of the measure advocated by the hon. Gentleman have not been ruled out, it is necessary to see how the measures which were announced last month work out and to see whether they can be reinforced. If they can be reinforced, I shall certainly reinforce them.

Mr. Dalyell

On 9th December my right hon. Friend referred to a study which was being carried out concerning the lead content of petrol, balancing the environment with the energy question. Can he say how the study is progressing?

Mr. Varley

The study is continuing. Work is being pressed ahead on it, and as soon as we are in a position to announce the conclusions I shall let the House know how it is going.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

My hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Rost) has been pressing a number of measures on the right hon. Gentleman which he might impose in the context of energy conservation. Indeed, he is to be congratulated on that. Does not the Secretary of State recognise that his announcement last month was greeted with dismay by many people on all sides of the political spectrum for its inadequacy? Will he now really get ahead? The campaign is something, but will he get ahead and examine urgently a number of the measures which my hon. Friend suggested, particularly that relating to motorway lighting, which would make a considerable public impact?

Mr. Varley

If one turned out all the street lights and all the lighting on the motorways it would save only about 1 per cent. of all the electricity generated. One has to take into consideration the safety and security aspects. The right hon. Gentleman ought to get his facts right. Certainly, as we have said on many occasions, if practicable proposals are put forward we will implement them.