§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are his estimates so far of annual savings of motor spirit and diesel oil in Scotland as a result of the speed restrictions; and if he will express this figure as a percentage of Scotland's total oil consumption in 1974.
§ Mr. John SmithSpeed restrictions are one of a number of factors affecting
322W
1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 National Coal Board Employees … … 703,900 716,500 712,500 690,800 692,600 Output (million tons) … … 196.8 208.2 214.8 216.1 222.0 Surplus/Deficit (£ million) … … −92.2 6.3 34.1 29.0 −5.8 Electricity Council and Boards (England and Wales) Employees … … — 146,650 160,849 166,217 169,151 Output (Giga-Watt hours*) … … — 40,314 43,036 48,888 52,060 Surplus/Deficit (£ million) … … — 16.2 25.9 23.0 9.3 British Gas Corporation Employees … … — — 140,651 143,505 147,937 Output (million therms) … … — — 2,132 2,460 2,513 Surplus/Deficit (£ million) … … — — 1.8 9.1 9.0 * A Giga-Watt hour (GWh) = one million Kilo-Watt hours. motor spirit and diesel oil consumption and it is impossible to isolate or quantify the effects. Diesel oil consumption is unlikely to be affected significantly because most vehicles using that fuel are limited to speeds lower than the special restrictions. Deliveries of motor spirit in Scotland in the first nine months of 1975 fel by 5.7 per cent. compared with 1973. Comparison with 1974 is invalid because of the three-day week and associated influences.