§ 1. Mr. Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the costs, and what are the estimated savings per annum, achieved by the existing energy conservation schemes in Great Britain.
§ The Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Peter Walker)Government expenditure at 1979–80 prices on energy conservation from 1979 to the end of the current financial year will exceed £330 million. During that time energy efficiency has improved so as to reduce final energy consumption by an average rate which is equal to around £700 million per annum at current prices.
§ Mr. RathboneThe House will welcome my right hon. Friend's answer and will also wish to thank the noble Lord who has this subject under his wing. Do those figures compare favourably, or unfavourably, with the return of about 30 per cent. which seems to be achieved in Northern Ireland? One must bear in mind that expenditure there is much less and the saving is much less, but that is perhaps a higher percentage.
§ Mr. WalkerDifferent regions have different potentialities, and results differ very much according to the 2 nature of the heating and energy used in any area at any one time. I assure my hon. Friend that there is the closest liaison between myself and the Northern Ireland Office and that any good ideas for progress are exchanged and used together.
§ Mr. MeadowcroftHow do the national figures compare with those of other EEC countries?
§ Mr. WalkerI have not obtained comparative figures for this period, but generally speaking this country has not done as well on energy efficiency as a number of our major competitors, and there is considerable progress to be made.
§ Mr. ChapmanDoes my right hon. Friend agree that energy conservation could be enhanced if the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 were amended so that there were both maximum and minimum permitted temperatures for such establishments?
§ Mr. WalkerI personally would rejoice at that, in particular for offices, shops and other areas where the heating is exceedingly high. However, this matter is the responsibility of those concerned. I hope that a careful study will be made by all commercial and other organisations of the manner in which they could introduce a much more effective energy policy without creating conditions detrimental to the comfort of their staff.
§ Mr. OrmeHon. Members on both sides of the House agree that energy conservation creates jobs as well as saving energy. Can the Secretary of State tell us what role the newly formed energy effeciency unit will play in coordinating energy efficiency within his Department?
§ Mr. WalkerIt will play the fullest possible role. I am pleased to say that the initial programmes to contact those who make decisions on energy efficiency in different parts of the country have created a considerable response and a great deal of activity. As the right hon. Gentleman says, there is much potential for creating jobs in this sphere.