§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list any schemes of grants, loans, low interest loans and tax credits now being operated by his Department to encourage energy conservation, including the use of solar energy and heat pump systems, as well as improved insulation, and the better use of waste heat, indicating the funds used so far in the current year for each scheme by individuals, small businesses and large industrial organisations, respectively, and in total; and if he will compare this with total amounts used for each of the last five years.
§ Dr. John A. Cunningham, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25th April 1977;Vol. 930, c. 243], gave the following information:
Responsibility for the implementation of the various energy conservation schemes introduced by Her Majesty's Government falls to several Departments in addition to the Department of Energy. The Department of Energy is responsible for the energy saving loan scheme introduced in December 1974 and for the energy survey scheme introduced in December 1976.
Under the loan scheme, loans are available, currently at 12 per cent. for industrial energy conservation schemes expected to produce annual fuel savings worth at least one-quarter of the capital cost.
272WThe survey scheme provides a subsidy of up to £30 per visit towards the cost of employing a consultant to make a one-day visit to a non-domestic establishment.
Funds used so far during 1977 have been in total £68,364, made up as follows:
Loan Scheme Survey Scheme £ £ Individuals Nil Nil Small businesses Nil 364 Large industrial organisations 68,000 Nil The only funds used in previous years on these schemes comprised £97,000 lent in 1976 under the loan scheme.
The above schemes complement a variety of forms of assistance available under the aegis of other Government Departments. Such assistance includes 100 per cent. first year tax allowance, under Section 14 of the Finance Act 1975, on expenditure incurred on adding insulation against loss of heat in an existing industrial building, and covers such items as draught exclusion—including flexidoors—roof lining, cavity wall filling, and double glazing. Other forms of such assistance are set out in detail in the White Paper "Energy Conservation" (Cmnd. 6575) of July 1976. For industry these include regional development grants in respect of new machinery and plant for energy conservation purposes, and grants under the Science and Technology Act 1965 to assist development of energy saving processes and equipment.
Detailed and intensive studies of some major energy using industries are carried out by the Department of Industry under its energy audit scheme. The Department of Industry is also responsible for the energy thrift scheme, a main aim of which is the gathering of information for Government and is, therefore, by invitation only. This involves a one-day visit to firms in manufacturing industry.
The Department of the Environment provide financial assistance towards insulation and draught proofing in local authority dwellings and, in special circumstances, private dwellings.
Research and development into wave energy, solar energy and geothermal energy is dealt with not by grants, loans or tax allowances but by contracts placed by the Department of Energy.