HC Deb 15 December 1988 vol 143 c682W
Mr. Gordon Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the annual cost of heating a small semi-detatched standardised house in England, Scotland, and Wales in 1979 by(a) gas, (b) electricity, (c) coal and (d) oil, expressed in cash.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Table 1 gives the costs of heating a standardised two bedroom house in five regions of Great Britain. The costs have been adjusted to 1979 money values using indices of current fuel prices as published in "Energy Trends". Costs vary between regions according to differences in temperature and fuel prices.

Table 1
Calculated costs of Heating a Standardised Two Bedroom House by region and type of fuel in 1979 money values
Gas Electricity Coal Oil
£ £ £ £
West Country 70–121 68–124 57–106 42–73
(118–169) (106–163) (126–175) (70–101)
South East 73–127 73–132 64–118 44–75
(121–175) (111–170) (138–192) (73–103)
North East 85–145 83–153 59–108 51–86
(157–193) (122–192) (118–168) (79–114)
Scotland 85–148 85–155 67–123 51–86
(157–196) (124–194) (133–190) (79–114)
Wales 70–121 69–127 61–113 42–73
(115–169) (106–163) (130–182) (69–99)

Notes:

  1. (1) Costs are calculated on the same basis as last published (Feb. 1986) Monergy Guides with fuel prices adjusted to 1979 money values.
  2. (2) Figures given first are for space heating only. The range represents the well insulated and poorly insulated cases. Bracketed figures include water heating.
  3. (3) No standing charges or maintenance costs are included.
  4. (4) The calculations are based on standard wet central heating system for gas, coal and oil. For electric heating storage heaters run on off peak heating are assumed.