§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy what financial assistance will be made available to public authorities and local authorities to reduce energy consumption from his present current estimate of 37 million tons of coal equivalent a year; what savings he expects to achieve in this sector; and over what time scale.
§ Mr. VarleyThe possible scope for energy savings, and the time scales, are among the points to be considered in the discussions which, as I said in my statement of 9th December, the Government intend to have with local authorities and other bodies. Local authorities will have to consider the scope for energy saving within the capital programmes they have been allocated, but if in the course of discussions the question of further assistance arises this will be considered.