Energy Labelling (Hansard, 4 June 1984)

§ Mr. Speller
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation, after the discussions with interested parties including building societies architects, surveyors and builders, requiring the energy labelling of new domestic dwellings.
52W

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
As stated in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's reply of 18 May to the hon. Member for Wiltshire, North (Mr. Needham), we have recently embarked on discussions with leading building societies, estate agents, surveyors and builders on our marketing advisors' proposals for energy labelling for houses. It is too early to consider legislation.

§ Mr. Speller
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation, after discussions with interested parties in the manufacturing and marketing sector, requiring the energy labelling of new domestic appliances.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The EEC has produced two directives on the energy efficiency labelling of domestic electrical appliances, a framework directive, and an implementing directive for electric ovens. Work to implement this directive in the United Kingdom is in progress.
A further directive on heat generators requires new heating appliances to be marked with their rated output and fuel consumption at rated output. Work on orders under the Energy Conservation Act 1981 to implement this directive is in progress; the first Orders are expected to be laid before the House next year.
During the passage of the 1981 Act and again in July 1982 the House accepted that a voluntary information scheme for non-heat generator domestic electrical appliances should be sought, and that only if this proved impossible should legislation be introduced. The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Electrical Appliances is introducing a voluntary scheme for providing information on the energy efficiency of these appliances progressively during 1984.
I attach great importance to the provision of information to enable householders to make the most efficient use of energy in their homes. The marketing advisers recently appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State are currently examining this issue.