§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Energy how Britain compares with other countries in energy efficiency; what was the position in each of the last 10 years; and on what statistical data he bases his conclusion.
§ Mr. David HuntIn making comparisons of Britain's performance on improving its energy efficiency, my Department has drawn on the statistics prepared by the OECD and the International Energy Agency. Figures covering the 10 years 1973–83, for the UK and its chief industrial and economic competitors, are as follows:
Ratios of Total Final Energy Consumption per Unit of GDP* Average Annual Rate of Change 1973 1979 1982 1983 Per cent. Japan .50 .46 .35 .35 -3.6 United States .85 .78 .69 .66 -2.5 France† .43 .37 -32 .32 -3.0 Germany .49 .43 .37 .37 -2.8 Netherlands .59 .61 .46 .47 -2.3 United Kingdom .65 .59 .53 .51 -2.3 * Measured in tons oil equivalent per 1,000 dollars of GDP at 1975 prices and exchange rates. † France is not a member of the IEA; figures may not be directly comparable.