HC Deb 06 June 1990 vol 173 c637W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the number of energy audits carried out in his Department in the last five years and for each audit a statement of its main conclusions.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

[holding answer 5 June 1990]: Information is not readily available for the years 1985–86 and 1986–87. During the subsequent three years energy surveys were carried out in 30 DH/DSS buildings. The main conclusions are shown as follows:

  1. 1. Convert tungsten lighting to compact fluorescent lighting.
  2. 2. Adjust boiler controls to avoid overheating during occupancy.
  3. 3. Adjust boiler controls to eliminate unnecessary heating during silent hours.
  4. 4. Install water meters.
  5. 5. Install controls to restrict the flow of water to taps and urinals.
  6. 6. Change fluorescent tubes to a high efficacy type.
  7. 7. Improve number of switches available to staff to enable them to control their lighting.
  8. 8. Remedy defects to window frames.
  9. 9. Maintain records of the utilities.
  10. 10. Display "Energy Management" posters for publicity

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give for each year from 1978 the energy consumption, broken down by fuel, of the buildings occupied by his Department, expressing the figures in(a) cash terms, (b) 1978–79 money terms and (c) units of consumption for electricity in kilowatt hours, gas in therms, liquid fuel in litres and solid fuel in tonnes.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

[holding answer 5 June 1990]: Information is only available for DH/DSS jointly, from the financial year 1985–86. The figures are in the table.

Year
1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89
Cash terms (£ million) 11.76 9.68 9.8 9.95
1985–86 money terms (£ million) 11.76 10.09 10.73 9.86
Therms (million) 13.54 8.5 8.4 7.8
kWh (million) 110 110 130 130
Litres (million) 9.5 9.05 9.05 4.6
Tonnes 7,314 8,230 7,077 4,250