To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has commissioned or funded into gas use in households which have introduced energy efficiency measures. (201324)

DEFRA has a research programme in place to test and quantify the in-situ performance of energy efficiency measures. We have also undertaken research into householder 'comfort taking'. This research feeds back into the modelling and the carbon savings prescribed to policies in the climate change programme.

Although yet to be fully quantified, we now know that UK gas consumption has fallen 12 per cent. since 2005, which we believe to be at least in part the impact of our regulatory energy efficiency policies such as the supplier obligation and building regulations.