HC Deb 27 January 1992 vol 202 cc686-7
3. Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the change in the United Kingdom's energy-intensity ratio since 1983; and what are the corresponding figures for the rest of the EC and with Japan.

Mr. Moynihan

Latest available OECD figures show that between 1983 and 1989 the United Kingdom's energy ratio improved by 11 per cent.—more than any other European Community country or Japan. The improvement for the EC as a whole was 4.2 per cent; for Japan it was 7 per cent.

Mr. Arnold

Will my hon. Friend quantify the savings to this country as a result of a number of relevant programmes being run by the Government?

Mr. Moynihan

Savings resulting from the Energy Efficiency Office's programmes alone have led to a current annual energy saving worth more than £500 million a year.

Mr. Rost

My hon. Friend has identified the potential of £10 billion worth of energy saving a year which is cost effective. Can he give any sign of the time scale that he hopes will be achieved and what impact that would have on the energy ratio that he has just quoted?

Mr. Moynihan

I cannot give my hon. Friend a precise timetable. It is the Government's view that if we can implement the package of energy efficiency measures, not least through, for example, the home energy efficiency scheme, additional resources for the energy management assistance scheme, the best practice programme and our regional and publicity activities, we shall be well on the way to achieving significant additional savings.

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