HC Deb 13 December 1982 vol 34 cc13-4
15. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the total amount of energy consumed in the United Kingdom in the first six months of 1982, expressed in terms of tonnes of coal or coal equivalent; and how this compares with consumption in each of the three previous years.

Mr. John Moore

United Kingdom energy consumption at 163 million tonnes of coal or coal equivalent in the first six months of 1982 was 0.7 per cent., 7.2 per cent. and 14.5 per cent. lower than in the corresponding periods of 1981, 1980, and 1979 respectively. I shall arrange for details to be published in the Official Report.

Mr. Hardy

Does not that answer illustrate the serious nature of the problem that affects our energy industry? Is it not clear that the amputation of demand in Britain has created more problems than it has solved?

Mr. Moore

The answer illustrates in part the impact and depth of the recession. The hon. Gentleman will be particularly interested, in view of his attitude to conservation, that it shows clearly that energy consumption per unit of industrial output fell by 10 per cent. in that period. All concerned with energy efficency will welcome that.

Mr. Eggar

Does not the fall in energy consumption reinforce the need to ensure that the National Coal Board produces coal at competitive prices and continues in its determination to close uneconomic pits?

Mr. Moore

It clearly shows, as has been said from both sides of the House many times, that if we are to achieve more markets for coal or any other fuel we have to be concerned about price competitiveness and security of supply. A key ingredient—[Interruption.] The right hon. Member for Lanarkshire, North (Mr. Smith) keeps interrupting from a sedentary position. I repeat to him that capital investment has been £4½ billion since "Plan for Coal". That is £1½ billion in excess of that anticipated for the period.

The following are the details:

Total primary energy consumption
January to June each year
1979 1980 1981 1982
Million tonnes of coal or coal equivalent 190.6 175.7 164.2 163.0
Index numbers, January to June 1982 = 100 117 108 101 100

Table 1
Total consumption by fuel, 1979 to 1982 (January to June) Primary fuels for energy use*
January to June each year
1979 1980 1981 1982
Million tonnes of coal or coal equivalent
of which:
Coal 67.8 64.9 60.2 58.2
Petroleum 74.3 63.7 56.1 57.9
Natural gas 40.3 39.3 39.5 38.4
Nuclear electricity 7.1 6.9 7.2 7.3
Hydro electricity 1.1 0.9 1.2 1.2
Total 190.6 175.7 164.2 163.0
Percentage shares (fuel equivalent basis)
of which:
Coal 35.6 36.9 36.7 35.7
Petroleum 39.0 36.3 34.2 35.5
Natural gas 21.1 22.4 24.0 23.6
Nuclear electricity 3.7 3.9 4.4 4.5
Hydro electricity 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.7
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Source: Energy Trends.
* Including non-energy use of natural gas.
Table 2
Index numbers of consumption by fuel, 1979 to 1982 (January to June) Primary fuels for energy use*
January to June 1982 = 100
January to June each year
1979 1980 1981 1982
Coal 116 112 103 100
Petroleum 128 110 97 100
Natural Gas 105 102 103 100
Nuclear electricity 97 95 99 100
Hydro electricity 87 72 95 100
Total 117 108 101 100
Source: Energy Trends.
* Including non-energy use of natural gas.
Table 3
Final consumption by user, 1979 to 1982 (January to June) Thousand million therms (Heat supplied basis)
January to June each year
1979 *1980 1981 1982
Iron and steel industry 2.6 1.4 1.6 1.7
Other industries 9.7 8.9 7.5 7.7
Transport sector 6.8 6.9 6.6 6.8
Domestic sector 9.6 8.8 8.6 8.6
Other final users 4.7 4.1 4.1 4.1
Total 33.4 30.1 28.4 28.9
Source: Energy Trends.
* Figures for the iron and steel industry were to some extent affected by the strike early in 1980.