HC Deb 03 June 1991 vol 192 cc41-2W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give for each available year from 1978 the amount invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in(a) cash terms and (b) 1990–91 money terms.

Mr. Curry

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his earlier question on 25 June 1990 at col.29. In the 1990–91 financial year £231,038 was spent on specific energy saving measures by this Department. This sum does not reflect the cost of other works which have led to energy saving alongside other benefits but in which this element cannot be specifically identified. Nor does it include expenditure undertaken by the Property Services Agency. Figures for years prior to 1989–90 are not available.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give for each available 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) 1990–91 money terms and (c) units of consumption for electricity in kilowatt hours, gas in therms, liquid fuel in litres and solid fuel in tonnes; and if he will give the square footage of accommodation to which these figures relate.

Mr. Curry

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his earlier question on 5 June 1990 at col.503. The information requested is not yet available for the 1990–91 financial year. The area of accommodation occupied by this Department at the end of 1990 was 595,665 sq m, that is, about 6.4 million sq ft.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the number of energy audits carried out in his Department in the past five years and for each audit a statement of its main conclusions.

Mr. Curry

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his earlier question on 5 June 1990 at column503. Since then, five further energy, audits have been carried out. In London the consultants report recommended changes to tariffs, improvements to heating controls and changes to time switches, metering arrangements and electrical capacities. At Slough recommendations centred on improvements to lighting, radiators and windows. In the Ministry's South Eastern region an audit proposed draught proofing and the insulation of plant and water heaters. In Midlands and Western region two audits were carried out which recommended tariff and time clock changes, modifications to and installation of thermostats, time switches and control systems, boiler adjustments and fitting energy efficient lighting.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the number of dedicated energy managers in his Department and the number of person-years devoted to energy management in the latest year.

Mr. Curry

The position in the Department has not changed since the answer given to the hon. Member on 5 June 1990 at column503.