HC Deb 12 April 1976 vol 909 cc379-80W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates to be the quantity of gasoline saved during the past year through the continuance of SI 1973/2051; and if he will express the result as a percentage of total energy consumption.

Mr. Eadie

Figures of average specific consumption of fuel per net KWh generated in conventional public supply power stations in the EEC countries during the years 1970–73 were published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities in its "Energy Statistics Yearbook 1974". The following figures have been derived from this published data together with provisional data provided by the Statistical Office for 1974:

Mr. Marks

I have been asked to reply.

There was less traffic in the first 10 months of 1975 than in the corresponding period of 1973, but after allowing for the resultant fuel saving, the consumption of motor spirit fell by about 500,000 tonnes through other causes. It is impossible to say how much of that saving was due to the temporary speed limits of 60 mph and 50 mph, introduced in December 1974. The figures suggest that the saving in a full year would be 600,000 tonnes, representing about 0.3 per cent, of total energy consumption on a primary fuel input basis.

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