§ 1. Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes any changes in the functions of his Department's energy conservation division.
§ Mr. ViggersWill my hon. Friend comment on press speculation that the Government might be proposing a new conservation agency? Does he agree that, whatever the merits of such a proposal, the best possible agent for the cost-effective use of energy is a realistic pricing policy?
§ Mr. MooreIt is not my place, especially after recent events, to comment on press speculation. I accept the point that my hon. Friend has made about price being a key factor in energy conservaton, but we have no immediate plans to introduce an energy conservation agency. The possibility of establishing an energy conservation agency has been considered in the Department, but only as one possible option for developing the Government's conservation strategy. I agree with the importance of ensuring effective co-ordination of energy conservation policy. My Department already carries out that function. Establishing an energy conservation agency is not the only or necessarily the best way forward.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. For someone taken by surprise, that was a very long reply.
§ Mr. Carter-JonesDoes the Minister agree that absent from his statement on the possible reconsideration of energy policy was a statement on the social costs or factors involved in repricing in energy policy? Will he take the aged and the disabled into account?
§ Mr. MooreThe Government have made that clear by their large programme of help to those in need. There is a major £200 million-plus programme of help to those in need. That shows the Government's keen concern for those aspects of social, as opposed to energy, policy.
§ Mr. FormanI understand my hon. Friend's point of view about a possible new energy conservation institution, but does he agree that there is a great opportunity for a new Government initiative on energy conservation, as in so many ways that could be the most cost-effective way of proceeding with energy policy?
§ Mr. MooreI accept my hon. Friend's point about the degree to which energy conservation is cost-effective, but he should recognise that the Government's conservation policy, which will be discussed in the debate later today, is proceeding successfully.
§ Mr. EadieDoes the hon. Gentleman agree that to argue before the House and the country that the basis of an energy conservation policy must be pricing is a lazy policy for any Government to pursue in tackling conservation?
§ Mr. MooreQuite the contrary. I was referring to one point that my hon. Friend made. I should have thought that recognising the realities of price was an honest part of our overall energy conservation policy.