§ Mr. Palmerasked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for further action on energy conservation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. John CunninghamThe Department of Energy is today publishing a report by an inter-departmental group of officials "Energy conservation: scope for new measures and long term strategy." This report, covering a detailed review of energy conservation in the main sectors of the economy was completed last year and has been endorsed by Ministers. It is now being published in the interests of wider understanding of the Government's approach to energy conservation and to stimulate public discussion of an important long-term component of overall energy policy. The interruption of oil supplies from Iran underlines the importance of improving the efficiency with which we use energy and the elimination of waste.
The report concludes that the main priority at this stage is to implement effectively the 10-year programme of measures costing £450 million over the first four years, announced over the last 12 months or so. But it says that energy conservation is not a once-and-for-all activity and cannot be achieved overnight. Policy and measures will need to be developed in the light of changing circumstances.