§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made by his Department in achieving the adoption by the European Community of a 545W scheme to label electrical appliances with information regarding energy efficiency; and if he will propose that any adopted scheme be mandatory.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmorySince the publication of the White Paper on the environment "This Common Inheritance"—Cm. 1200—the Energy Efficiency Office has consulted extensively on the practicality of appliance labelling schemes and encouraged the European Commission in its own consultative work on drawing up a proposal for a directive, on which agreement is expected shortly. We hope to introduce a voluntary scheme in the United Kingdom in advance of an EC scheme.