HC Deb 13 November 1973 vol 864 cc115-6W
Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in order to assist measures for fuel economies, he will estimate and publish the energy consumed per 100 passenger miles according to statistics available to him by a small car up to 1,000 c.c. with one passenger, a small car up to 1,000 c.c. with four passengers, a car over 2,500 c.c. with one passenger, a car over 2,500 c.c. with four passengers, a half-full double decker passenger bus, a full passenger double decker bus, a diesel train half full, and a diesel train full, a half-full 100 seat passenger aircraft, and a full 100 seat passenger aircraft.

Mr. Peyton

I have been asked to reply.

The statistics available do not make it possible to make estimates of relative levels of energy consumption which are valid in all situations; but they support the broad conclusion that buses and trains make better use of oil than air transport—measured in seat-miles per gallon—for inter-city services and that, within urban areas, mass transit systems are more efficient, in terms of energy consumption, than private cars.