§ 17. Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the potential annual savings in energy costs available for local authorities if they were to arrange their energy needs more efficiently.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe local authorities management services and computer committee (LAMSAC) undertook a study for my Department during 1982–83 and reported last year that local authorities could save £100 million a year by implementing cost-effective conservation measures without any reductions in services.
Energy Creation (Biomass Sources)
18. Mr. Heathcoat-Amory asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any intention of increasing the level of his Department's research and development expenditure into the creation of energy from biomass sources.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerMy Department's research and development programme on biomass is continuing and I am supplementing this by demonstration projects on the use of waste as fuel.