§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will direct the Scottish electricity generating boards to consider the need to give greater priority to advertising schemes of energy saving in home and industry than to advertising ways of increasing energy consumption.
§ Mr. William RossThe board's advertising falls within its commercial discretion and is not a matter on which I would consider a direction appropriate. I know, however, that is is giving weight to the important considerations that underlie my hon. Friend's Question, and the subject of promoting economy and efficiency in the use of energy will now be studied by the new Advisory Council on Energy Conservation announced by my right lion. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy yesterday. I shall, of course, have access to the council's advice, and will have it much in mind in my discussions with the Scottish boards.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures, at 1964 prices, showing the SSEB and North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board expenditure, respectively, on advertising designed to increase sales and consumption in each of the past 10 years.
§ Mr. William RossThis is a matter within the commercial discretion of the boards, and I am therefore asking the chairmen to write to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures showing the coal, gas, and electricity boards' current budget for advertising designed to increase energy consumption and how much they spend on advertising designed to save energy.
§ Mr. William RossI shall ask the chairmen of the Scottish electricity boards to write to my hon. Friend. Questions regarding the coal and gas industries and the electricity boards in England and Wales are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.