§ 16. Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what measures he is taking to ensure that by 1992 there is a substantial energy saving in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe programmes of the Energy Efficiency Office have already achieved savings of more than £0.5 billion per year. The EEO is now targeting its efforts on key areas of energy use and offering advice backed by technical support. In particular, we are emphasising the work of the regional energy efficiency officers in making direct contact with major energy users and offering the new best practice programme which will develop and disseminate well-researched information on energy use sector by sector. In addition the Secretary of State is leading a campaign to improve the efficiency of energy use in the public sector. I believe that this targeted approach will result in the work of the EEO being even more effective.
Our proposals for the electricity supply industry will also give further impetus to the promotion of energy efficiency, particularly through the responsibilities of the director general and his staff in the Office of Electricity Regulation.
In addition, amendments to the building regulations were laid before the House on 11 July. These will require improvements in insulation standards which should achieve a saving of 20 per cent. in heating requirements compared with existing regulations.