§ Lord ORR-EWINGMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask how Her Majesty's Government plan to control the use of energy by civil authorities and private persons if supplies have to be curtailed during cold winter weather.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of ENERGY (LORD BALOGH)My Lords, cold and even severe winter weather conditions do not automatically necessitate curtailment of energy supplies. General contingency plans are kept in readiness, but I would refer the noble Lord to my analysis of the energy situation during the debate on the Fuel and Electricity Order on 5th December.
§ Lord ORR-EWINGMy Lords, does the noble Lord the Minister admit that at the beginning of last winter there were 35 million tons of solid fuel in stock and that we start this winter with only 21 million tons in stock? Therefore, would the Minister agree that it would be wise to launch a major publicity campaign urging people, both in their personal interest and in the national interest, to use the absolute minimum of solid fuel?
§ Lord BALOGHMy Lords, I should have thought that the noble Lord would remember in what conditions we went into the severe winter last year. Those conditions do not apply this winter.
§ Lord ORR-EWINGMy Lords, would the noble Lord answer the point 1036 I put to him? If there is a need to save those supplies—which are much diminished as compared with last winter—surely a publicity campaign should be mounted to bring this home to the people? At the moment this message has not been received either nationally or individually.
§ Lord BALOGHMy Lords, we shall certainly launch a campaign for energy saving in general, but it seems to me that the noble Lord forgets that this winter we shall have, I hope, a continuous supply of coal and even severe weather will not interrupt it.
§ Lord BLYTONMy Lords, is the Minister aware that this year there is no overtime ban in the mines leading up to a wages dispute? May I ask him whether he is further aware that our Party has no policy of confrontation with the miners and that therefore this winter there will be a continuous supply of coal?
§ Lord BALOGHMy Lords, my noble friend has taken the words out of my mouth.
§ Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONEMy Lords, notwithstanding that his noble friend has taken the words out of the noble Lord's mouth, are we to understand that the noble Lord admits or denies the figures given by my noble friend for the relative stocks of coal? May I also ask whether his rather complacent Answer amounts to a guarantee that we shall not go short this winter?
§ Lord BALOGHMy Lords, I would never guarantee anything to anybody, and especially not to the noble Lord.
§ Lord BALFOUR of INCHRYEIs the noble Lord aware, my Lords, that we seem to be setting a very good example of conservation at the moment, at any rate as regards the temperature at this end of the Chamber?
§ Lord SLATERMy Lords, in regard to the question of publicity being given to the alleged shortage of coal in this country, may I ask my noble friend whether he is not overlooking the fact that our people throughout the country possess average intelligence and that the publicity campaign already in being—not only last year but even this year—will 1037 already have made an indelible impression on the need for conservation of fuel?
§ Lord BALOGHMy Lords, I fully share the sentiments of the noble Lord.
§ Lord CARRINGTONMy Lords, may I ask the Minister whether it would not be sensible, since the noble Lord cannot guarantee that everything will be all right this winter, to take steps such as those which my noble friend has suggested?
§ Lord BALOGHMy Lords, I did not say that we did not take the steps.
§ Lord BLYTONMy Lords, could my noble friend guarantee that this winter we shall not have a three-day week?
§ The EARL OF GLASGOWMy Lords, could the noble Lord tell me what control the Government have over lighting on motorways? Driving down from Scotland yesterday, I noticed that in broad daylight 15 miles or so of the motorway was lit up on both sides, which must be unnecessary and wasteful. Could the noble Lord comment on that?
§ Lord BALOGHMy Lords, I would ask the noble Earl to be good enough to put down a Question on those lines, and it will be answered.
§ Lord BLYTONMy Lords, would the noble Lord the Minister answer my question on whether he can guarantee that we shall not have a three-day week this winter?