§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Energy how much money was spent in each of the last four financial years on advertising by the electricity board and the gas board, respectively; and what is the estimated additional revenue raised by this advertising.
§ Dr. J. Dickson MabonThe British Gas Corporation's Annual Reports and Accounts show expenditure under the general heading "Publicity, Displays and Exhibitions" as follows:
1975–76 … … £7.6 million 1974–75 … … £7.5 million 1973–74 … … £6.1 million 1972–73 … … £6.4 million Area electricity boards in England and Wales undertake their own publicity in addition to that arranged by the Electricity Council. The expenditure shown in the Council's Annual Statements of Accounts and Statistics under the heading "Publicity, Exhibitions etc." was:
Electricity Council £m. Area Boards £m. Total £m. 1975–76 … 1.234 7.432 8.667 1974–75 … 0.989 5.927 6.916 1973–74 … 0.729 5.513 6.242 1972–73 … 0.693 5.837 6.530 A significant amount of these expenditures is for general information purposes or directed to energy conservation. The 290W effect of advertising on revenue cannot be estimated.