HC Deb 25 July 1983 vol 46 cc300-1W
Mr. Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how much Government money has been (a) allocated and (b) spent in each of the last five years in real terms on encouraging energy saving and conservation in (i) industry, (ii) domestic dwellings, (iii) commercial premises and (iv) public buildings; and what in each of the five years is the estimated energy saving achieved;

(2) if he will break down the total of £103 million mentioned in his answer of 4 July, Official Report, c. 11, into spending on various conservation measures planned for 1982–83; and what was spending on similar measures in each of the last four financial years.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Not all the information requested is available. It could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. The following table gives details of anticipated Government expenditure in energy conservation measures for 1983–84 and expenditure incurred on these measures in the four preceding years.

Estimates of the amount of energy saving cannot quantify the effects on energy consumption of changes in economic activity and industrial structure, on the one hand, and a combination of pricing and other energy efficiency measures on the other. However energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 4.3 per cent. between 1979 and 1980, by 1.3 per cent. between 1980 and 1981 and by 2.5 per cent. between 1981 and 1982. Total energy

Measures 1983–84 (proposed) 1982–83 1981–82 1980–81 1979–80
£ million £ million £ million £ million £ million
Energy survey scheme 1.955 1.320 1.529 2.263 1.14
Energy conservation demonstration projects scheme 6.324 4.374 2.273 0.824 0.24
Thrift and audit schemes 0.199 0.3 0.469 0.72 0.69
Homes insulation scheme 36.565 32.695 27.657 18.0 16.087
Aid to voluntary organisations' community tabulation projects 0.151 0.134 0.080
Publicity, information and advice 3.547 2.59 4.157 3.619 2.37
R&D 27.75 24.065 23.578 21.817 14.998
CHP/district heating 0.160 0.378 0.525 0.179
NHS buildings 12.0 12.0 9.0 12.3 10.91
Civil and defence estate 15.0 11.53 11.23 12.87 12.045
Other measures 3.977 5.693 3.879 3.616 n/a
Totals 107.628 95.079 84.377 76.208 58.480
Totals at 1979–80 prices 73.456 68.456 61.791 64.572 58.480