HC Deb 13 February 1995 vol 254 cc655-6
14. Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for increasing the investment in energy efficiency in Wales.

Mr. Redwood

There are a number of initiatives in the public and private sectors to improve energy efficiency, which I widely welcome. There is the Government's home insulation scheme. I am launching a drive to improve energy efficiency throughout the public sector in our own buildings. There are many private sector initiatives to help save money given the considerable energy bill in Wales.

Mr. Dafis

Does the Secretary of State accept that a proper programme of energy efficiency in homes could produce a reduction in fuel bills of up to 50 per cent. as well as significant reductions in the harmful emission of gases that come from the generation of energy for our homes? Does he accept also that as many as 5,000 jobs a year could be created at a cost of £30 million per annum in the process of getting such a programme into operation?

Does the right hon. Gentleman further accept that it is only through socially useful labour-intensive activity that we can seriously tackle unemployment? Will he undertake, as Secretary of State for Wales, to make such public investment available? While he is at it, will he study the excellent document produced by my hon. Friend the Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) entitled "100,000 answers", which describes how public investment could transform the unemployment position in Wales?

Mr. Redwood

I have already studied that programme; indeed, we debated it briefly in the Welsh Grand Committee. If only life were that simple. Unfortunately, the programme is grossly under-costed. We must take into account the impact of rising interest rates and rising public expenditure costs on the economy generally if the programme were replicated throughout the country.

Of course the Government believe that there are things that can be done under existing programmes. That is why we have a strong programme of energy efficiency measures, which produce work in the public and private sectors. That is very welcome. It may be difficult reducing each household's bill by 50 per cent., but large reductions can be—and should be—made.