§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether, in the interests of energy conservation, he will restrict heating in shops, offices, factories and all public buildings to a temperature of not higher than 63°F.;
(2) whether, in the interests of energy conservation, he will restrict the lighting of shops, offices, factories and public buildings out of business hours;
(3) if he will take further steps to encourage collective and individual participation in the war on waste which he outlined in his statement of 12th November.
614Windustrial consumers; and what are the cash sums involved;
(2) what proportion of the total amount of gas used in the United Kingdom is consumed by domestic consumers and what proportion by commercial/industrial consumers; and what is the total number of therms consumed.
§ Mr. John SmithFigures for the United Kingdom are not readily available. Figures for Great Britain for the financial year 1973–74 are:
(2) what proportion of the total amount of electricity generated in the United Kingdom is consumed by domestic consumers and what proportion by commercial/industrial consumers; and what is the total number of units consumed.
§ Mr. EadieFigures for the United Kingdom are not readily available. Figures for Great Britain for the financial year 1973–74 are:
§ Mr. VarleyI shall be making a statement on further energy conservation measures shortly.
§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the energy saving that would be achieved annually as a proportion of total consumption and as a proportion of cost at current fuel prices, if all buildings were thermally insulated to standards accepted as adequate by other European countries with temperate climates.
§ Mr. FreesonI have been asked to reply.
615WSince the insulation provided, and needed, in a building varies with its age and type, and since standards vary between other European countries, it is not possible to make the comparison requested. It is certain, however, that considerable scope exists for the conservation of fuel in existing buildings by thermal insulation amongst other means and my Department is studying the question of priorities.
§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied with the energy saving that will result by altering the statutory building regulations so that roof insulation for new housing will be increased from 25 mm to 50 mm; and how this compares with current regulations in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
§ Mr. FreesonI have been asked to reply.
Direct comparisons with other European countries are difficult to make since their requirements are calculated on differing principles. It appears, however, that Scandinavian standards of roof insulation are higher than the proposed United Kingdom standard but that this will be at least as good as, and in some cases better than, those elsewhere in North-West Europe.
§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has estimated the amount being spent by the building industry on thermal insulation, expressed as a percentage of total building costs; and how this figure compares with expenditure by other European countries with temperate climates.
§ Mr. FreesonI have been asked to reply.
Sufficient information on the use of materials employed primarily on thermal insulation in construction is not available to allow a percentage to be arrived at. Many constructional materials not used for that purpose alone possess insulating qualities, and this consideration would also have to be taken into account. Information on which to base a comparison with European practice is not available.