Energy Efficiency Office (Hansard, 29 January 1990)

§ 1. Mr. Menzies Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the forward budget of the Energy Efficiency Office.

§ The Minister of State, Department of Energy (Mr. Peter Morrison)
The budget of the Energy Efficiency Office for 2 the current year is £15 million. Its budget for future years will be substantially increased by funding for the proposed new insulation scheme for low-income households.

§ Mr. Campbell
How can we be confident about that assertion, given that the office's budget has been cut from its 1986–86 level of £24.5 million to £15 million for the current year? Did not the Government give evidence to the United Nations that we can save up to 60 per cent. of our fuel bill over the next 15 years by more effective methods of energy conservation? Should not we be looking for more investment and more commitment from the Government to energy efficiency, which would have substantial effects on the environment?

§ Mr. Morrison
Perhaps the hon. and learned Gentleman is overestimating the figure at 60 per cent.—it is about 20 per cent. The fact that £40,000 million is still being spent shows that considerable savings can be made. The hon. and learned Gentleman will recall that a significant amount of money was spent on advertising. I hope that he will agree that the fact that energy efficiency is at the top of the list of priorities of many businesses and domestic households shows that that money was well spent and need not be spent to the same extent again.

§ Mr. Moss
Will my right hon. Friend confirm that spending on energy efficiency has increased dramatically since 1979? Does he accept that an industrywide voluntary code on energy efficiency labelling of appliances would be warmly welcomed by Conservative Members?

§ Mr. Morrison
I agree with my hon. Friend. Compared with 1979, about £500 million is being saved on energy costs, which by any stretch of the imagination is a significant sum. My hon. Friend may know that the Department is conducting a study on domestic electrical appliances, which we shall publish as soon as possible. I agree with my hon. Friend that there are definite savings to be made.