§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to encourage the use of indigenous energy-efficient materials to the exclusion of those which are oil-based.
§ Dr. John Cunningham:The energy efficiency of a material relates both to the total amount of energy required for its manufacture and supply and to the lifetime energy efficiency of the material in its final user form and application. It is an objective of Government to encourage industry to develop materials with improved efficiency in both these contexts. This is being effected through energy audit studies, financial assistance provided by the energy research, development and demonstration schemes—details of which are given in the Department of Energy's paper No. 32, published on the 9th November 1973—and through the Department of Industry's research requirement boards and other sponsoring activities. In assessing projects, due weight would be given to any benefits accruing from the use of indigenous energy sources other than oil, but the choice of materials used in the United Kingdom will inevitably mainly depend on their overall economy and effectiveness in particular applications.