§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the available figures, with suitable breakdowns, of energy-saving achievements and energy-saving targets, in the domestic, industrial, commercial and public administration sectors; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MooreDepartment of Energy estimates suggest that from 1974–1977 energy consumption was up to 6 per cent. below what it would have been in the absence of higher energy prices and Government energy conservation measures. An explanation of the problems associated with the measurement of428W energy saving was given in my answer to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 20 December 1979. No sectoral breakdown of these estimates is available.
There are no formal targets for energy saving either on an overall or on a sectoral basis. The Department' senergy projections 1979 include an allowance of about 20 per cent. for energy conservation in the year 2000. However, this is an assumption, not a formal target.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Energy what study he has made of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment sector working party report indicating it is cheaper to waste energy than to provide additional energy-saving equipment; what further incentives he is providing for industrial energy saving; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellI have been asked to reply.
The sector working party's progress report 1980 is being considered by Her Majesty's Government and a response will be made to the SWP's recommendation on energy conservation in due course.