asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the energy used in providing public outdoor illumination during December; and, assuming that all the power generated is provided by oil, what the savings on imports would be if this could be reduced by 50 per cent.

The primary fuel requirements for supplying public street etc. lighting during December, assuming average annual generating efficiency, is around 70,000 tons of oil or oil equivalent. Assuming that all the power generated is by oil, the saving in oil imports due to a reduction in public lighting in December by 50 per cent. would thus be about 35,000 tons of oil.