HC Deb 10 July 1996 vol 281 cc168-70W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of people currently employed in each of the local energy advice centres. [36549]

Mr. Robert B. Jones

This is a matter for the local energy advice centres and the Energy Saving Trust, which is responsible for the management and funding of the centres.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total budget for local energy advice centres in each year from 1993 to date; and in each year how much of that budget was provided from(a) his Department, (b) the Energy Saving Trust and (c) other bodies. [36543]

Mr. Jones

The total expenditure, with the proportion provided by the Department of the Environment, on the local energy advice centre pilot study in each of the relevant years is as follows:

£ million Per cent.
1993–94 1.76 70
1994–95 2.62 64
1995–96 3.51 63

The balance of the expenditure came from other sources. The Energy Saving Trust did not directly provide any funds before April 1996.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have received energy saving advice from local energy advice centres in each year since 1993. [36545]

Mr. Jones

The number—rounded to the nearest thousand—of clients who received advice from local energy advice centres in each year is as follows:

  • 1993–94: 26,000
  • 1994–95: 57,000
  • 1995–96: 100,000

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the work and effectiveness of local energy advice centres. [36547]

Mr. Jones

We monitored the efficiency and effectiveness of the local energy advice centres through regular reports from the Energy Saving Trust and reports from comprehensive market research running in parallel with the pilot study. The Energy Saving Trust has now taken over responsibility for this research programme. These reports demonstrate that the impartial and free advice provided by the pilot study centres has proved very effective, and substantial efficiency gains in its delivery have been achieved.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proposals his Department has for(a) the funding and (b) other support for local energy advice centres after September; and if he will make a statement; [36548]

(2) what is his estimate of the amount of funding local energy advice centres will receive from (a) his Department, (b) the Energy Saving Trust and (c) other bodies, after September. [36544]

Mr. Jones

The Energy Saving Trust is responsible for the management and funding of the local energy advice centres. My Department has agreed the trust's proposals to use DOE funds to support the local energy advice centres up to March 1999. The trust announced its plans for the local energy advice centres at the local energy advice centres' annual conference on 8 July.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is(a) the financial saving on energy bills and (b) the savings in carbon dioxide emissions (i) per customer and (ii) in total, that has resulted from energy/saving advice given by local energy advice centres, to the latest available date. [36546]

Mr. Jones

Estimated savings attributable to advice from local energy advice centres are as follows:

Year Financial £ Carbon Dioxide emission
1993–94 Per client: 38 Per client: 458 kilograms
Total: 1 million Total: 11,900 tonnes
1994–95 Per client: 30 Per client: 350 kilograms
Total: 1.7 million Total: 20,000 tonnes
1995–96 Per client: 30 Per client: 350 kilograms
Total: 2.4 million Per client: 35,000 tonnes