§ Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for Energy how much oil is used for space heating and water heating purposes in the domestic sector; what proportion of total United Kingdom oil consumption this represents; and what plans the Government has for encouraging or requiring such users to switch to other fuels in such cases.
§ Mr. GrayPrecise information of the kind requested is not available. During 1978 2.6 million tonnes of gas/diesel, fuel and burning (kerosene) oils were delivered for central heating purposes in domestic houses and other dwellings; this was 3.1 per cent. of total deliveries of petroleum products for inland consumption in the United Kingdom during 1978.
In present circumstances, I should expect anyone using oil for heating to be looking closely at the advantages of other fuels. I do not think that any further encouragement is necessary.