asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what studies the new Energy Conservation Unit in his Department will be making of car engine design with a view to fuel saving.(2) what studies the new Energy Conservation Unit of his Department will undertake into the use of diesel engines for private cars to reduce fuel consumption;(3) what studies will be commissioned by his Energy Conservation Unit into the body design of private cars with a view to fuel economy;(4) what studies will be made by his new Energy Conservation Unit of the materials technology for car manufacture with a view to reducing weight and improving fuel consumption;(5) what studies will be made by his Energy Conservation Unit of the use of overdrives in cars to improve fuel consumption.

Officials are at present preparing a study of possible areas for research and development to improve energy conservation in the road transport sector. The Department of Energy, through its Energy Conservation Division, will be considering this and other studies covering energy conservation in the transport field in conjunction with other relevant Departments, the Advisory Council on Energy Conservation, the motor industry and other interested bodies. The primary responsibility for instigating technical research in road transport lies, of course, with the Departments of Industry and Transport. In addition the Government have opened discussion in general terms with the motor industry on possible targets for raising the average miles per gallon to be achieved by new cars and on methods of achieving those targets.