§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in theOfficial Report the progress since 1983 in attaining the Government's energy conservation objectives.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe programmes of the Energy Efficiency Office have achieved some significant successes since 1983. For example, over 500,000 homes have been treated under community insulation projects; savings of £75 million a year are being made through the monitoring and targeting programme; savings of £190 million a year have been achieved through the energy efficiency demonstration scheme and savings identified through the former energy efficiency survey scheme total over £200 million a year.
An indication of good progress on energy efficiency can also be obtained from statistics on energy intensity (ie the amount of energy used in the United Kingdom for each pound of real gross domestic product). Between 1983 and 1987, energy intensity in the United Kingdom fell by some 7 per cent.
674WThe international evidence is also encouraging. A European Commission paper shows that in the period 1973–82 the United Kingdom came seventh out of the then 10 Community countries in terms of improvement in energy intensity, whereas a more recent Commission paper indicates that the United Kingdom is now fifth out of 12 member states. The United Kingdom rate of improvement is now over twice the Community average.