HL Deb 22 June 1992 vol 538 cc339-40

2.56 p.m.

Lord Ezra asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Ministerial Group on Energy Efficiency, formerly under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Energy, has been reconstituted.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the Secretary of State for the Environment has proposed that the responsibilities of the Ministerial Group on Energy Efficiency should be merged with those of the group of Green Ministers who co-ordinate environmental initiatives across government.

Lord Ezra

My Lords, while accepting that this is a move forward in the interests of the environment in general, does the noble Viscount agree that very valuable work was done by the Ministerial Group on Energy Efficiency under the chairmanship of the noble Lord the Leader of the House in his then capacity of Secretary of State for Energy? Does the noble Viscount share my opinion that the first annual report of that group was one of the most impressive documents produced on energy efficiency? Can the Minister say whether that work is to be continued or are we simply to have just this first report on the subject and then will the interest move elsewhere?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I fully agree with the noble Lord, Lord Ezra. This change shows that the Government's commitment to energy efficiency has grown even stronger. The group of Green Ministers has more senior representation, including several Secretaries of State. We are proposing that the Green Ministers will carry on the work taken forward by the ministerial group.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, is the noble Viscount aware that some noble Lords who are interested in this subject take the opposite view? Does the noble Viscount agree that the involvement of three Ministers in charge of one matter instead of one Minister who has overall responsibility and is advised by the body referred to in the Question, is a far from progressive arrangement? Is the Minister not aware that, if the Government continue on the new course that the Minister suggested in his Answer, it may well throw this important subject open to market forces, which would be disastrous?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, energy efficiency is one of the quickest and most effective ways of dealing with the problems of global warming. Therefore, as I say, we are proposing to incorporate it into the work of the Green Ministers, who are responsible for environmental issues, and so put the matter into the right context.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, while not disagreeing with the tributes which have been paid to the first report, does the Minister agree that the need for effective action by government is emphasised by the fact that half of the government departments increased their energy consumption last year, half of them failed to meet the standards set for energy managers and four-fifths failed to meet standards set for investment in energy efficiency?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the role of the ministerial group was to promote awareness and raise the profile of energy efficiency; to encourage an efficient lifestyle and to set an example in government. It is too early in the campaign to say what the results are. However, departments are undertaking measures to ensure that they meet the targets.

Lord Ezra

My Lords, following the question from the noble Lord, Lord McIntosh of Haringey, may I ask whether the league tables on efficiency in different government departments which were contained in the group's first report will continue to be published?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the data on the progress of the Government's campaign which were published in the ministerial group's annual report last year will be included in the second-year report on the environment this year.