§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Energy what study he has made of the effects of the computer-aided fuel monitoring system developed by Cheshire county council; what cost savings he estimates would result from its use by other local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. John Cunningham:The Cheshire county council's computer-aided fuel monitoring system is an interesting development of which I am fully aware. Indeed, I am today visiting Cheshire county council to learn more of its energy saving achievements at first hand. Cheshire's is, of course, not the only example of computer monitoring of fuel use by local authorities; at least 16 others are engaged in similar schemes.
7WOfficials of the Department of Energy are at present examining the possibility of making a fuel monitoring computer programme available to local authorities on a national scale as a useful tool to help them in the energy management of their building stock.
The use of a computer programme does not in itself make energy savings. Its purpose is to identify areas of likely savings which can be achieved only by practical measures such as good housekeeping, good maintenance and investment in energy saving equipment. It is therefore premature to estimate the likely savings which might be achieved by the use of such a programme by other authorities.