§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the improvement in fuel consumption as a result of better insulation and control equipment in the Palace of Westminster, compares with conservation already achieved in some other buildings managed by the Property Services Agency.
§ Mr. MarksThe Palace of Westminster is not directly comparable to any particular group of PSA buildings in respect of fuel consumption. Improvements to insulation and control equipment have not yet been completed.
§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies by energy efficiency consultants have been sponsored by the Property Services Agency, on energy usage in the Palace of Westminster; and by what percentage energy consumption has been reduced in each of the past three years.
§ Mr. MarksIn 1975, a feasibility study on modernisation of the heating system at the Palace of Westminster was commissioned by the Property Services Agency. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley), on 31st January 1978, in which I gave the figures for energy consumption over the last three years.—[Vol. 943, c.83.]
§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what work has been undertaken by the Property Services Agency on improving thermal insulation and fuel controls on the Palace of Westminster; and what additional investment has been assessed as cost-effective in order to reduce the current waste of fuel.
§ Mr. MarksThe latest fuel burner controls and boiler instrumentation have been fitted to the central boiler house. Work on the rest of the installations is due to begin this year and takes the form of a six-year modernisation programme (current estimated cost £2 million), which was accepted as a result of the feasibility study, commissioned in 1975.
This plan will result in considerable economies and is cost effective.
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§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total consumption of fuels and the cost used in the Palace of Westminster in each of the past three years; what is the estimated consumption and cost for the current year; and to what level consumption could be reduced and what cost saving would accrue if more effective insulation, heating controls and conservation were implemented.
§ Mr. MarksI refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 31st January 1978, which listed the fuel consumption for the past three years. The costs amounted to £129,000 for 1974–75, £209,133 for 1975–76 and £229,752 for 1976–77. The total estimated cost for 1978 is £250,000. An estimated saving of 20 per cent. in fuel consumption will be achieved through the modernisation programme which is to begin this year. The amount of cost benefit will depend on eneregy prices.—[Vol. 943, c.83.]