§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is being done to minimise competitive advertising between the fuel industries and to encourage them actively to promote energy conservation.
§ Dr. John CunninghamI have had extensive discussions with the chairmen of the nationalised fuel industries and the major oil companies with the objective of encouraging them to extend and intensify their promotion of energy conservation.
These discussions have taken place in the light of:
- (i) the extent to which the fuel industries already seek to promote the efficient use of energy both through their membership of my right hon. Friend's Advisory Council on Energy Conservation and in their normal commercial operations; and
- (ii) the recognition that advertising by the fuel industries can contribute to the more efficient and economical use of energy to the extent that it informs consumers about the range of choices, in terms of fuel, costs and appliance efficiency, open to them; about the availability of services, such as advice and maintenance, which are provided; and about the importance of adequate insulation, instrumentation and controls over energy use in the home, shop, office, and factory.
There is general agreement among those I have consulted on the need vigorously to promote the wise and efficient use of energy. Over recent months the chairmen of the nationalised fuel industries and major oil companies have readily responded to my suggestion that they should make a series of speeches on 125W energy conservation. I intend to publish this series in pamphlet form. In the course of these speeches the chairmen have explained the need for energy conservation; what their own organisations are doing to save energy; and the services they are offering to consumers to help them achieve savings.
It is clear that a great deal is being done in the fuel sector to improve the efficiency with which energy is used and to cut out waste.
In addition, the chairmen of the publicly-owned coal, gas and electricity industries, including the Scottish electricity boards, and the Britih National Oil Corporation have agreed to join with the Department in a national advertising campaign to reinforce the energy conservation message to the public. I very much appreciate their positive response to the idea of a co-operative campaign. The private sector oil companies feel unable to join in the campaign, but the Chairman of the Petroleum Industry Advisory Committee (PIAC) has written to assure me that the Government's overall campaign has their "wholehearted support" and some companies have already taken action. The PIAC's energy conservation group is now assembling details of how the oil companies feel they can individually publicise the benefits of eneregy conservation and its value to the nation.