§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has given consideration to introducing any measures similar to those in Romania where the Government have announced that they are to have power cuts, less television at night, and fewer trolley buses to conserve energy and to hold down costs.
§ Mr. MellorMeasures to restrain demand of the kind referred to are appropriate only in a short term energy supply crisis. The Government's energy conservation programme is designed to improve the long term energy efficiency of the United Kingdom economy.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will estimate the proportion of the 1 per cent. savings in energy consumption in Great. Britain achieved between September and November 1980, and in September and November 1981, which was due to investment in structural conservation measure, and the proportion due to the decline in overall industrial and commercial activity.
§ Mr. MellorI refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) on 8 February. It is not possible to attibute the fall in energy consumption for the period quoted to different factors including changes in economic activity, energy price movements and energy conservation. There was, however, little change in the level of industrial and commercial activity.