HC Deb 26 February 1990 vol 168 c97W
Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he is undertaking of the continuing need for a Department of Energy.

Mr. Wakeham

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 15 February at column361.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what further plans he has to privatise the activities of his Department.

Mr. Wakeham

We plan to privatise the electricity supply industry in England and Wales and, in due course, British Coal. I have at present no further plans of this kind.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what savings his Department has made in its expenditure following the privatisation of industries which were his Department's responsibility.

Mr. Wakeham

As a direct result of privatisations already carried through, my Department has saved 20 staff out of a total of around 1,000. The associated savings in administrative costs currently amount to around £400,000 a year.