Final debate on the energy bill10 October 2011
The Government was forced to rely on Parliamentary protocol to avoid almost certain defeat on the issue of cold rented homes.
Following a successful campaign by a coalition of forty organisations led by Friends of the Earth, the Government agreed to introduce a new law in the Energy Bill.
This law makes it illegal for a landlord to rent out the worst insulated properties until they are improved
This could save almost £500 off the annual energy bill of the 700,000 households affected, and slash their carbon emissions too.
Independent peer, Lord Best, who has championed the measure, intended to force a vote in the final debate on the Bill.
This would have decided whether the new law should start in 2016 as Friends of the Earth has demanded, or delayed until 2018 as the Government plan.
He was strongly supported by the Labour Party and the former Conservative Environment Minister, John Gummer (now Lord Deben).
But Lord Best was unable to force a vote on the issue because the Conservatives were still in the middle of their Party conference.
It's absolutely clear that the House of Lords thought the Government should be moving quicker to end the scandal of people living in dangerously cold rented homes. It's a shame they were denied the chance to vote for it.
Friends of the Earth Campaigner Dave Timms
But the new law is still a big step forward.
Tougher action to insulate homes will benefit everyone by:
- reducing energy bills.
- cutting our carbon emissions.
- helping the economy by creating jobs.
