§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the progress of work towards the audit of energy efficiency within the National Health Service.
§ Mr. FreemanThe audit of energy efficiency is being conducted jointly by the audit branch of the Department of Health and the Audit Commission. It is intended that the Audit Commission will assume full responsibility for the audit of the NHS in October 1990 as announced in the National Health Service White Paper. The energy audit is being conducted at the majority of health authorities in England and it is expected that the final report will be published towards the end of 1990. The audit has been extended to Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and France based on the approach pioneered in England. The audit methodology is based upon research carried out by Audit Commission, the Department's audit branch, and guidance on energy efficiency promulgated in Encode.