Archived press release

Maddock's Energy Bill Succeeds

8 June 1995

Friends of the Earth today welcomed the successful passage of the Home Energy Conservation Bill (1) through Parliament and called on the Government to now honour its commitment to setting stringent targets for its implementation.

The Bill requires local authorities to assess the energy efficiency of all homes in their area and draw up local energy conservation plans. When first drafted, the Bill obliged councils to identify energy savings of up to 30%, but the Bill was watered down at Committee stage and this target removed after objections from the Government. However, the Minister for Energy Efficiency, Robert Jones MP, gave assurances at the time that he would instruct councils to set such targets.

Anna Stanford, Energy Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, commented;

"After deliberately sabotaging similar pieces of legislation in the past (2), we are delighted that the Government has now seen sense and allowed this piece of legislation to succeed. However, it is vital that this Bill has teeth if it is to bring the enormous environmental, social and economic benefits it offers."

As well as cutting emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, energy efficiency measures can reduce fuel bills, improve living conditions, make industry more competitive and create thousands of jobs.

There is much more the Government could do to remove the barriers to energy efficiency. Britain currently wastes a fifth of its fossil fuel and electricity use and could cut o10 billion a year off the nation's collective fuel bill. However, current regulations controlling the gas and electricity industry encourage energy consumption rather than conservation. There is also a serious lack of information and finance available for energy efficiency improvements.

Anna Stanford concluded;

"By providing a national energy 'map' for the UK, the Home Energy Conservation Bill is an important step on the road to reducing pollution and protecting the climate. Local authorities must now take the initiative and include in their energy conservation plans a target of at least 30% for cutting energy waste."

ENDS

020 8800 732 (h)

NOTES TO EDITORS:

(1) The Home Energy Conservation Bill is a Private Member's Bill sponsored by Diana Maddock MP and supported by a wide range of environmental and fuel poverty groups, local authorities, MPs and the public. It received its third and final reading in the House of Lords today and will now go for Royal Assent. The Home Energy Conservation Act will come into force in April 1996.

(2) The Home Energy Conservation Bill has a long and stormy history. Similar pieces of legislation have been introduced twice since 1993, by Cynog Dafis MP and Alan Beith MP. On each occasion the Government blocked the legislation, most recently by tabling over 200 amendments. MPs, including the Minister for Energy Efficiency, Robert Jones, voted to "deplore" the Bill despite previously supporting it.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust