§ 2.46 p.m.
Baroness VICKERSMy 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 whether they can give any information about progress being made in regard to solar heating especially for domestic use.
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, about 10,000 solar water heating installations are 381 believed to have been supplied last year. Half of these were for swimming pools and the rest mainly for dwellings. Solar space heating is at present too costly to be widely justified, but the Government are supporting development of this and of other applications of solar energy in their own laboratories, in industry and in the universities.
Baroness VICKERSMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that reply. What advice has been given to domestic users?—because one has seen advertisements on the television and so on which may be rather misleading. In view of the fact that the costs of electricity, gas and coal are continually increasing, does she think that further experiments could advantageously be continued?
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, I take it that the noble Baroness saw the programme on television last Sunday night, as I did. I can only urge her to advise people to take the advice that was given in that programme and to consult the appropriate trade organisation before entering into any commitments. The Building Research Establishment has a major programme of research on energy use, with particular emphasis on housing. At present it is costing about £500,000 a year. One of the three new experimental houses that we are monitoring is solar heated. We hope to obtain more information as a result of these experiments.
§ Lord THOMASMy Lords, does the noble Baroness agree that one of the most promising applications of solar energy is the desalination of sea water? Is any effort being made towards the development of this system which can bring infertile lands into good agricultural use?
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, I was sure that this House would live up to its name and that we would even find an expert in solar energy. I do not have the answer to the noble Lord's question. My brief is peculiarly concerned with the application to domestic heating, but I shall certainly make inquiries and will write to the noble Lord if we have any information.
§ Lord STRATHCONA and MOUNT ROYALMy Lords, will the noble Baroness tell the House what improvement 382 grants one is eligible for if one installs a solar-assisted hot water system?
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, none, because at the moment it is not one of the approved means of heating the water in one's house.
§ Lord WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, in view of the peculiarly scandalous nature of some of the advertisements, would it be possible for Her Majesty's Government to take steps to advertise the fact that only those systems which have been approved should be installed? Many people are not aware of how deplorably inadequate some of the systems can be.
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, although I share my noble friend's concern, we might be accused of trying to tell people how to spend their money if we said in which direction and with which firm they should spend it. I can only reiterate what I said in my answer. There is a trade association covering this and I hope that those who are considering spending a lot of money will make sure, through the auspices of the trade association, that they deal with competent and reputable people.
§ Lord IRONSIDEMy Lords, can the noble Baroness say whether the Government are participating at present in any European Community programmes with regard to solar energy?
§ Baroness STEDMANYes, my Lords; there is international collaboration involving several of the international scientific organisations. In addition, we include programmes under both the EEC Joint Research Centre and indirect action sponsored research, and the International Energy Agency also has a five-point solar heating programme. The United Kingdom will eventually take part in all these programmes.