§ Sir William Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all the incentives available to manufacturing industry and commerce for energy conservation schemes.
§ Mr. MellorThe incentives available are as follows:
(1) The energy survey scheme (Department of Energy). An initial subsidy of up to £75 is provided towards the costs of employing an accredited consultant on a one-day energy survey of industrial, commercial or public sector premises. Companies can also apply for extended surveys, for which up to half the costs can be claimed. Special provision has been made to provide financial assistance for industrial combined heat and power feasibility studies.
(2) Energy conservation demonstration projects scheme (joint scheme operated by Departments of Energy and Industry). Cash grants are offered to energy users wishing to collaborate in approved demonstration projects which may relate to any aspect of energy use. Projects include 317W new applications of established energy conservation technology and those which apply novel, improved or modified energy conservation technology. Grants of up to 25 per cent. of the capital cost are available plus up to 100 per cent. of the cost of monitoring and publicising the energy savings.
(3) Coal firing scheme (Department of Industry). Capital grants of up to 25 per cent. are available for conversion or replacement of existing oil and/or gas fired industrial equipment with coal fired industrial equipment. Commercial undertakings in the United Kingdom operating in the sectors of industry, commerce and agriculture are eligible to apply, but most public sector bodies are excluded. The capital grants cover the purchase and installation of essential plant and equipment, and the provision or modification of buildings associated with the project. The new equipment will in most cases have to burn not less than 75 per cent. coal in the future. The minimum threshold for applications is £15,000 eligible costs.
The scheme will be open for applications until 31 March 1983, or until £50 million is committed, whichever is the earlier, and projects must be completed by 31 March 1985. Applicants must be prepared to satisfy the Department of Industry that the project would not have gone ahead in the form proposed or within a reasonable time scale without assistance under the scheme.
(4) Within each of the Department of Industry's regional offices and appropriate departments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, a senior member of staff—the regional energy conservation officer—has been appointed to specialise in energy conservation and maintain links with energy managers in industry, as well as local authorities. Over 70 energy managers' groups have been founded.
Population mid 1980* 000s British aid 1981 £000‡ British aid 1981 £s per person GNP 1978 £s per person Falkland Islands †2 1,057 528.5 NA Gibraltar 30 4,010 133.7 1,907 Sri Lanka 14,815 24,850 1.7 99 Indonesia 146,243 13,343 0.09 188 India 673,207 168,550 0.25 94 Nigeria 84,732 4,231 0.05 292 * Preliminary. † 1978 figure. ‡ Aid figures are on a gross public expenditure definition.