Energy Efficiency Office (Hansard, 24 January 1989)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy (Baroness Hooper)
My Lords, the activities of the Energy Efficiency Office will not be substantially reduced in 1989–90. Due to the success of the initial general phase of the EEO's programmes we are now able to enter a fresh phase of activity. We shall be targeting our activities more selectively on key areas of energy use and on the work of the regional energy efficiency officers at local level. We are preparing a new best practice programme which will give consumers authoritative and independent advice and information.

§ Lord Ezra
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that considerable confusion has been caused by the severe reduction in the funding of the Energy Efficiency Office proposed for next year from £24-5 million to £15 million at the very time when the Government are putting so much emphasis on the environmental aspects of the way in which we live? Does she not agree that improving energy efficiency is one of the most effective ways of achieving the containment of the greenhouse effect?

§ Baroness Hooper
Yes, my Lords. The reduction proposed in the Energy Efficiency Office's programme for the coming year is a direct result of the successes achieved in the earlier campaign. I am sure that your Lordships will all agree that the object of a campaign is to have some effect, and when one has a successful campaign one acts accordingly. However, it is precisely because of the greenhouse effect to which the noble Lord, Lord Ezra, referred that we are taking energy efficiency just as seriously as we did before and making it an essential part of our programme and plans.

§ Viscount Hood
My Lords, will my noble friend say what allowance for improved energy efficiency has been assumed in the government requirement for 15 gigawatts of additional generating capacity by the end of the century?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, in the Government's privatisation proposals we take into account the role of energy efficiency. We are breaking new ground in promoting energy efficiency within the industry and by customers. For example, the director general and the Secretary of State will both be required and have a duty placed upon them to promote efficiency, and suppliers will be required to provide consumers with guidance on efficient energy use.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that there is some confusion about present government proposals in the Electricity Bill concerning ressponsibility for energy conservation, because a number of different versions have been produced in another place? Will she confirm that the privatised area electricity boards will themselves in future be responsible for encouraging and promoting the conservation of energy in households? Will the noble Baroness also consider the possibility that the generating authorities may also have that duty placed upon them, and thus encourage the area boards to do the same?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, I believe that in responding to the previous question I answered the points raised by the noble Lord, Lord Williams of Elvel. The distribution companies are the suppliers. A duty will be placed upon them to provide consumers with guidance on the efficient use of electricity. In the climate of competition which privatisation will engender with other forms of energy there will be competition between suppliers of energy in other fields as well. The duty placed on the director general and the Secretary of State will ensure that the generation side of the equation is also covered.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, will the Minister kindly confirm that in the Government's plans there is no duty laid directly on the privatised generating companies?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, the whole purpose of the regulation is to ensure that the generation of electricity will be carried out according to certain requirements that are felt necessary, and it is the regulatory scheme which will ensure efficient generation.

§ Lord Peyton of Yeovil
My Lords, will my noble friend tell the House when the Government expect to publish this huge complex of regulations from which so much is expected and on which so much reliance is placed?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, I fear that my noble friend has been straying slightly from the Question on the Order Paper. That is also true of some of the previous questions. However, the licences dealing 594 with a great deal of the regulation have already been published.

§ The Earl of Lauderdale
My Lords, will my noble friend confirm that the outlines of these licences have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament?

§ Baroness Hooper
Yes, my Lords; I believe that is the case. They are available.