HL Deb 11 December 1974 vol 355 cc637-8

2.52 p.m.

The Earl of PERTH

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the annual cost of floodlighting the Houses of Parliament and the GLC Building.

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, the annual cost in respect of the Palace of Westminster is estimated to be £2,270. I am unable to supply the information in respect of the Greater London Council, for which Her Majesty's Government are not responsible.

The Earl of PERTH

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that partially illuminating reply, may I ask him whether he will confirm that, on the basis of the figure he has given and assuming that the GLC's cost is at least as much as that, there are in addition a hundred or more floodlit buildings in London and the total cost of floodlighting in London alone is in the order of a quarter of a million pounds or more? Would the noble Lord draw the attention of the Secretary of State for Energy to this figure in view of the fact that the Secretary of State has said that he does not propose to ban floodlighting at the present time? Furthermore, would he agree with me that, unless the Government and the GLC set an example, it is hardly likely that the ordinary citizen will heed the request to "put out that light"?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I am afraid that I cannot comment on the estimate of a quarter of a million pounds or on the number of buildings which the noble Lord suggests are floodlit. However, I can say that the Government do all they can to conserve electricity and that measures have already been taken, by the use of high-pressure sodium lamps in lighting the Palace of Westminster, which have dramatically cut the cost and the amount of power consumed. It has been decided by the Government not to ban floodlighting of buildings, bridges and statues at this time, because it is the Government's view that this would make life unnecessarily austere. However, the whole energy situation will be closely watched and if more severe measures are required, Her Majesty's Government will not hesitate to take them.

Lord REIGATE

My Lords, would Her Majesty's Government bear in mind that this is still a great tourist centre and that one of its attractions is our beautiful floodlit buildings?

Lord MELCHETT

Yes, my Lords.

The Earl of ONSLOW

My Lords, would it not have been possible for the nobe Lord to have obtained this information before he came into the House? The noble Lord had bags of notice of the Question. Could he not have asked the GLC how much it spent and then produced the information for you Lordship's House?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I have already said that Her Majesty's Government cannot answer for the GLC.

Lord SLATER

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that, just as directions. instructions or advice would be conveyed to the GLC, they would be similarly conveyed to all county councils and other authorities throughout the United Kingdom which would, therefore, fall into the same ambit as the GLC? Why ask the GLC for such figures but not the other authorities throughout the country?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I think that I would agree with that point. In his Statement which was repeated in this House on Monday, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Energy announced that the Government will be asking all those concerned in the New Year whether the lights used for floodlighting are really necessary outside the hours when they have maximum impact.