§ 3. Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the chairman of British Gas about his energy-saving campaign.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Norman Lamont)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I 6 met the chairman of British Gas on 1 April, when the corporation's energy conservation campaign was among the subjects discussed.
§ Mr. BakerBearing in mind the need to balance one energy supply with another, and also the energy savings campaign to which my hon. Friend has referred, is it not somewhat illogical for the British Gas Corporation to spend large sums of money on selling and advertising gas?
§ Mr. LamontThe British Gas Corporation is not spending large amounts of money each year on advertising gas. Its advertising has been cut back, and is now confined to conservation and appliances. There is no advertising for domestic consumption generally. The advertising for appliances is not geared to the domestic central heating market, which is 85 per cent. of the domestic market.
§ Mr. DouglasWhen the Minister met the chairman, did he give him assurances that in no way would the British Gas Corporation be inhibited from playing a major part in the gas-gathering system at present under discussion?
§ Mr. LamontThat matter does not arise out of this question, and it was not the subject of the meeting.
§ Mr. ViggersMy hon. Friend will remember the conversion programme to North Sea gas which the British Gas Corporation carried out so effectively. Does he agree that the need for conservation and insulation is now so great that it would be worth while considering the possibility of getting the corporation to carry out a national programme to insulate homes on the same basis?
§ Mr. LamontThere is force in what my hon. Friend has said. He will know that the British Gas Corporation advertises and sells insulation material and that it is anxious to demonstrate to people the great savings that can result from energy conservation.