HC Deb 16 February 1971 vol 811 cc412-3W
Mr. Moyle

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what portion of British energy requirements is provided by coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear energy and hydroelectric power, respecively, on the last convenient date for which the figures are available; and how these figures compare with similar figures for an equivalent date in 1965.

Mr. Ridley

In terms of coal equivalent, the percentage shares of total inland energy consumption in the United Kingdom in 1965 and 1970 were:

expects to make definition orders or marking orders under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, by the end of 1971; and what is the reason for delay in issuing such measures of consumer protection.

Mr. Ridley

What orders are made in future will depend on the outcome of my consideration of the proposals I receive. There has been no undue delay in dealing with these.

Mr. Marples

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many proposals his Department has received since the coming into force of the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, for the making of definition orders under Section 7 and of marking orders under Section 8; how many of these proposals have been accepted and rejected, respectively, in each case; and for what reasons.

Mr. Ridley

The figures are as follows:

Definition Marking
Proposed 28 32
Under consideration 1 4
Consideration deferred pending further developments 3 4
Rejected 24 24

Rejected proposals under Section 7 were for definitions which were considered to be unnecessary, inappropriate or unenforceable. The majority of proposals for marking orders under Section 8 were rejected because they were thought to offer insufficient net benefit to the consumer to warrant compulsion, and the remainder because they were inappropriate for action under this power.