HC Deb 30 January 1989 vol 146 c83W
24. Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his assessment of the impact of the introduction of the European Commission directive on energy information in buildings on the level of energy demand in the United Kingdom by the year 2000.

Mr. Peter Morrison

No such assessment has been made. In its present form, the draft directive would require energy audits to be carried out on a mandatory basis; as I told my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) on 9 November 1988, I consider that, while the Government encourage consumers to take energy efficiency into account, it is entirely a matter for the seller and the buyer and one in which it would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene.