§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what action Her Majesty's Government have taken to implement the steps proposed to urge the European Community to negotiate effective voluntary agreements on minimum standards of energy efficiency for domestic and individual appliances, as set out in paragraph C33, page 2, of annex C of the White Paper on the Environment (Cm 1200);
(2) what studies have been undertaken or commissioned by his Department to substantiate the statement made in the White Paper on the Environment (Cm 1200) C31, page 287, that customers are unlikely to choose white domestic appliances lighting systems, central heating systems etc. on energy saving grounds; and what additional measures are planned by his Department to increase customer awareness of energy labelling on electric goods.
§ Mr. BaldryA report by independent consultants on the energy efficiency of domestic electrical appliances, commissioned by the Energy Efficiency Office, was published in September (HMSO Energy Efficiency Series No. 13). The report established the general lack of consumer interest in choosing appliances on the basis of their energy efficiency. The Energy Efficiency Office is now discussing with manufacturers, advertising agencies and consumer groups the best way to present energy information to consumers and has proposed a voluntary labelling scheme for electrical appliances.
The Energy Efficiency Office is actively participating in the EC action programme for improving the efficiency of 271W electricity end use (PACE) and will be discussing information and efficiency standards for domestic electrical appliances at a workshop in Brussels next month. We are also pressing for work on labelling and standards to be carried forward under the proposed specialaction programme for vigorous energy efficiency (SAVE).