HC Deb 13 November 1989 vol 160 cc95-6W
14. Mr. Jack

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress is being made on promoting the efficient use of energy in the public sector.

55. Miss Widdecombe

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress is being made on promoting the efficient use of energy in the public sector.

Mr. Peter Morrison

On 19 October I chaired the first of a series of regular meetings of Ministers responsible for departmental energy use, when excellent progress was made.

63. Mr. Squire

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has proposals to encourage the use of more energy-efficient domestic appliances.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Manufacturers and consumer associations already publish energy consumption data for electrical appliances which facilitate the choice of the more energy efficient models. My energy efficiency office has commissioned a study on the energy efficiency of electrical appliances and we will consider the matter further when we have received the report of this study.

68. Mr. Hague

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what improvements have been made in energy efficiency in the last 10 years.

72. Ms. Quin

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what studies he has undertaken into the rate of improvement in energy efficiency in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1989" contains figures for primary energy consumption, gross domestic product, and the resultant energy ratio.

Over the last 10 years, the energy ratio has improved from 1.24 tonnes of coal equivalent per £1,000 gross domestic product in 1979 to 1.01 tonnes per £1,000 in 1988, an average reduction in energy intensity in excess of 2 per cent. per year.

71. Mr. Wood

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what initiatives his Department is taking in the field of energy efficiency.

Mr. Peter Morrison

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray) on 17 July 1989 at column53.

Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what evidence is available on the extent to which the seven highest energy-using industries have become more energy efficient during the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The latest information comes from the five-yearly purchase inquiries conducted with a sample of 10,000 United Kingdom manufacturing sites and establishments by the Business Statistics Office. A further survey is now under way.

The table shows the difference in energy consumption as a percentage of gross output for the seven most energy-intensive industries in the United Kingdom for the years 1979 and 1984. The figures are published in "Industrial Energy Markets: No. 9 Energy Efficiency Series".

Gross output Percentage of output spent on Energy Consumption
1984 £ million 1979 1984
Basic Chemicals 7,224 7.84 6.75
Iron and Steel 7,208 8.74 7.47
Non Ferrous Metals 3,965 4.90 15.30
Cement 3,335 9.66 9.13
Paper and Board 1,942 11.88 9.59
Bricks and Ceramics 1,738 10.35 10.70
Glass 1,328 10.29 211.32
1 There has been a change to electric melting for quality control, environmental and other reasons leading to lower energy consumption but higher cost.
2 During this five-year period manpower costs more than halved due to intense rationalisation of plants, and other costs were also reduced —thus masking a real decrease in energy consumption.

It can be seen that in several industries there have been considerable improvements in energy efficiency. A number of individual examples of considerable increases in energy efficiency in the tabulated industries are being documented under the Energy Efficiency Office "Best Practice" programme and will be available during the coming year.