§ Mr. PendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific measures his Department has taken to promote energy efficiency; what further measures his Department intends to take to promote energy efficiency; and by what amount and what percentage of its total energy bill his Department's energy bill has been reduced over the past year.
§ Mr. DorrellThe national health service has met the target of reducing energy consumption by 1–5 per cent. a year suggested by the Public Accounts Committee in 1980–81 and there is a commitment to save a further 15 per cent. in consumption over the next five years.
Guidance is provided by the Department's "Encode" and the performance of regional health authorities is monitored by the national health service management executive.
It is estimated that £379 million has been saved in the national health service in the last 10 years due to reductions in energy consumption, changes in fuel prices and rationalisation of the estate. The latest annual figures which have been validated are for 1986–87 and they show a saving of £4.7 million representing 2 per cent. of the total energy bill for that year.