HC Deb 10 November 1933 vol 48 cc191-2W
Mr. Murphy

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on Government policy towards energy conservation, both domestic and industrial.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) on 31 October.—[Vol. 47, c.259.]

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he has taken to encourage and support research in the field of energy conservation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

My Department supports research into both the technology of energy efficiency and the economic and organisational factors affecting its uptake, through commissioning specific research projects, funding research agencies and offering financial incentives. This includes research on economic aspects of energy efficiency conducted within my Department, research into consumer attitudes by the Central Office of Information, and the work of the building research energy conservation support unit and the energy technology support unit.

Sixty-five projects developing energy-efficient technologies have been approved under my Department's energy conservation research and development programme and 219 projects with high potential for replication have been approved under the energy conservation demonstration projects scheme.

Recent economic and organisational projects have included:

  1. (a) an examination of the barriers to investment in cost-effective energy efficiency measures in industry;
  2. (b) an assessment of a programme of voluntary projects insulating homes for low income households;
  3. (c) a study by the local authorities management services and computer committee of energy management in local authorities.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make specific grants available to local authorities in order to enable them to make available to the public advice and information about energy conservation.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

My Department has published a variety of material describing measures which can be taken by the public to use energy more efficiently. Copies of this material can be supplied, free of charge, to any local authority — or any other body — for public dissemination.

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