Session 2010 - 12
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Other Bills before Parliament


 
 

101

 

House of Commons

 
 

Thursday 9 June 2011

 

Public Bill Committee

 

New Amendments handed in are marked thus Parliamentary Star

 

Parliamentary Star - whiteAmendments which will comply with the required notice period at their next appearance

 

Energy Bill [Lords]


 

Note

 

The amendments have been arranged in accordance with the Order of the

 

Committee [7 June 2011].

 


 

Caroline Lucas

 

99

 

Clause  4,  page  5,  line  34,  leave out ‘energy efficiency improvements’ and insert

 

‘improvements’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment along with related amendments, differentiates between all measures that could be

 

included in an ‘energy plan’, and measures which could attract Green Deal finance. The amend­

 

ment seeks to ensure that householders are informed about all measures which could improve the

 

efficiency of their property.

 

Luciana Berger

 

Huw Irranca-Davies

 

35

 

Clause  4,  page  5,  line  34,  after ‘improvements’, insert ‘and that the

 

recommendations have been made without bias toward, or in promotion of, the products

 

or services of any one green deal provider, and that person has disclosed (in writing and

 

verbally) their connection with any green deal installer or green deal provider to the

 

improver and the bill payer.’.

 

Tessa Munt

 

Luciana Berger

 

Huw Irranca-Davies

 

Dr Alan Whitehead

 

42

 

Clause  4,  page  6,  line  6,  after ‘instalments’, insert ‘including the entire cost of the

 

financial package and any associated charges’.


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 9 June 2011                     

102

 

Energy Bill [Lords] continued

 
 

Caroline Lucas

 

105

 

Clause  4,  page  6,  line  6,  after ‘instalments,’, insert ‘including the entire cost of the

 

finance package,’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

To clarify that the cost of any energy efficiency measures being installed under the Green Deal,

 

including the entire cost of the financial package, must not exceed the expected resultant savings

 

on the customer’s energy bills over a specified time scale.

 

Luciana Berger

 

Huw Irranca-Davies

 

36

 

Clause  4,  page  6,  line  11,  at end insert—

 

‘(9A)    

The ninth condition is that the assessment must clearly detail those energy

 

efficiency improvements that qualify under the Green Deal and when making an

 

assessment the assessor must—

 

(a)    

include all energy efficiency improvement options that qualify under the

 

Green Deal;

 

(b)    

identify energy efficiency improvements that—

 

(i)    

sit outside the Green Deal; or

 

(ii)    

collectively exceed the total amount qualifiable under a Green

 

Deal plan, where this is clearly identified on the assessment.’.

 


 

Luciana Berger

 

Huw Irranca-Davies

 

Caroline Lucas

 

32

 

Clause  5,  page  7,  line  14,  at end insert—

 

‘(e)    

a condition that the plan includes a term enabling the provision of

 

individual or community-based incentives to take up the Green Deal.’.

 

Luciana Berger

 

Huw Irranca-Davies

 

34

 

Clause  5,  page  7,  line  14,  at end insert—

 

‘(e)    

a condition is that all fees that may be incurred by the householder or

 

landlord throughout a green deal plan are communicated to the

 

contracting householder or landlord in a clear, transparent and easy to

 

understand format prior to the deal being secured.’.

 


 

Dr Alan Whitehead

 

114

 

Clause  6,  page  7,  line  24,  at end insert—

 

‘(c)    

the landlord’s consent to Green Deal improvements is unreasonably

 

withheld;


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 9 June 2011                     

103

 

Energy Bill [Lords] continued

 
 

(d)    

the bill payer’s consent to Green Deal improvements is unreasonably

 

withheld.’.

 


 

Caroline Lucas

 

131

 

Parliamentary Star - white    

Clause  9,  page  9,  line  5,  leave out ‘may’ and insert ‘shall’.

 


 

Gregory Barker

 

45

 

Clause  17,  page  14,  line  3,  at end insert—

 

‘(3A)    

Provision made by virtue of subsection (2)(b) which falls within subsection (3)(c)

 

may include provision requiring the holder of the licence, where a bill payer has

 

failed to pay a sum due under an energy bill, to remit a proportion of any payment

 

received to a green deal provider.’.

 

Caroline Lucas

 

106

 

Clause  17,  page  14,  line  3,  at end insert—

 

‘(g)    

provision requiring the holder of the licence to disclose, via the

 

customer’s energy bill, any Green Deal payments being collected

 

through that bill as well as any arrears which may accumulate through

 

non-payment of Green Deal charges.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would require energy companies to disclose any Green Deal payments on cus­

 

tomers’ energy bills.

 

Gregory Barker

 

4

 

Clause  17,  page  14,  line  21,  at end insert ‘or nominated by a green deal provider’.

 


 

Tessa Munt

 

111

 

Clause  18,  page  14,  leave out subsection (2).

 

Tessa Munt

 

112

 

Clause  18,  page  14,  line  46,  at end insert—

 

‘(2A)    

The modifications made by virtue of subsection (1) will, in particular—

 

(a)    

have particular regard to the interests of consumers who are one or more

 

of the following—

 

(i)    

disabled or chronically sick individuals;

 

(ii)    

individuals of pensionable age;

 

(iii)    

individuals on low income;


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 9 June 2011                     

104

 

Energy Bill [Lords] continued

 
 

(iv)    

individuals with one or more resident children aged 16 or under;

 

(b)    

prevent disconnection of the supply to a Green Deal property where—

 

(i)    

the bill payer is in financial difficulties and is complying with an

 

agreement, or reduced repayment plan, of which the Green Deal

 

is part;

 

(ii)    

the Green Deal charges were not disclosed to the purchasers or

 

tenant by the seller and/or landlord and/or their agents;

 

(iii)    

the bill payer is in a legitimate dispute with the Green Deal

 

provider;

 

(iv)    

a failure in the metering system, including pre-payment and

 

smart-meter systems, results in a consumer being unable to make

 

Green Deal payments; or

 

(v)    

other circumstances as specified by the Secretary of State.’.

 


 

Gregory Barker

 

46

 

Clause  19,  page  15,  line  15,  leave out from ‘for’ to end of line 17 and insert ‘one or

 

both of the following two purposes only.

 

(2A)    

The first purpose is the purpose of requiring, at specified times, the holder of the

 

licence to provide bill payers with specified information in connection with their

 

green deal plans.

 

(2B)    

The second purpose is the purpose of requiring the holder of the licence to

 

disclose on request specified information about the payment of energy bills by a

 

person who is, or is to be, the bill payer for a property in respect of which there

 

is, or is proposed to be, a green deal plan.

 

(2C)    

The only persons to whom the licence holder may be required to disclose

 

information by virtue of subsection (2B) are—

 

(a)    

where there is a green deal plan, the green deal provider under the plan;

 

(b)    

where there is proposed to be a green deal plan, a person who is

 

authorised under the framework regulations to act as a green deal

 

provider.

 

(2D)    

The licence holder may be required to disclose the information requested only

 

where—

 

(a)    

the green deal provider or authorised person states that the request is

 

made for purposes connected with the green deal plan or proposed green

 

deal plan;

 

(b)    

the green deal provider or authorised person provides evidence that the

 

bill payer has consented to—

 

(i)    

disclosure of the information to that provider or person for those

 

purposes, and

 

(ii)    

onward disclosure of the disclosed information to and by other

 

other persons for those purposes;

 

(c)    

the information relates to a time within the 5 years immediately

 

preceding the request; and

 

(d)    

the licence holder has the information.’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

47

 

Clause  19,  page  15,  line  18,  after ‘power’, insert ‘under subsection (1)’.


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 9 June 2011                     

105

 

Energy Bill [Lords] continued

 
 

Gregory Barker

 

48

 

Clause  19,  page  15,  line  19,  leave out ‘form’ and insert ‘manner or form, or subject

 

to specified requirements or restrictions’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

49

 

Clause  19,  page  15,  line  19,  at end insert—

 

‘(4)    

Conditions included in a licence under section 7A(1) of the Gas Act 1986 by

 

virtue of the power under subsection (1) and the purpose mentioned in subsection

 

(2B) may do any of the things authorised by section 7B(5)(a)(i) or (iii) of that Act

 

(which applies to the power of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority with

 

respect to licence conditions under section 7B(4)(a)).

 

(5)    

Conditions included in a licence under section 6(1)(d) of the Electricity Act 1989

 

by virtue of the power under subsection (1) and the purpose mentioned in

 

subsection (2B) may do any of the things authorised by section 7(3)(a) or (c) or

 

(4) of that Act (which applies to the power of the Gas and Electricity Markets

 

Authority with respect to licence conditions under section 7(1)(a)).’.

 


 

Caroline Lucas

 

107

 

Clause  22,  page  16,  line  23,  leave out subsection (4) and insert—

 

‘(4)    

Modifications made under sections 17 to 20—

 

(a)    

shall be made by statutory instrument;

 

(b)    

shall not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by

 

resolution of each House of Parliament.’

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would make all modifications to the Gas Act 1986 or the Electricity Act 1989 sub­

 

ject to the affirmative procedure in both Houses of Parliament.

 


 

Caroline Lucas

 

110

 

Page  19,  line  26,  leave out Clause 28.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This Clause would exempt an energy supplier from giving notice for sums in arrears in relation to

 

the Green Deal.

 


 

Luciana Berger

 

Huw Irranca-Davies

 

82

 

Clause  30,  page  20,  line  37,  at end insert—

 

‘(6A)    

Any order made by virtue of subsection (1) or (4)(b) must provide for—

 

(a)    

a single point of contact for energy services consumers seeking advice

 

and redress;


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 9 June 2011                     

106

 

Energy Bill [Lords] continued

 
 

(b)    

exercising of functions across energy services sectors to resolve

 

consumer complaints involving one or more energy services; and

 

(c)    

sharing of complaints-handling data for the benefit of consumers, where

 

“energy services” include—

 

(i)    

accredited energy services advice, including energy performance

 

certificates and Green Deal advice services;

 

(ii)    

supply of energy or heating fuels, including gas;

 

(iii)    

energy efficiency services, including those delivered under the

 

green deal or energy company obligation;

 

(iv)    

smart metering services;

 

(v)    

microgeneration systems;

 

(vi)    

domestic renewable heat systems;

 

(vii)    

district heating services;

 

(viii)    

other specified services.’.

 


 

Gregory Barker

 

5

 

Clause  33,  page  22,  line  1,   leave out ‘this section’ and insert ‘subsection (2)’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

6

 

Clause  33,  page  22,  line  21,  at end insert ‘or, in Scotland, expenses’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

7

 

Clause  33,  page  22,  line  24,   leave out ‘this section’ and insert ‘subsection (2)’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

8

 

Clause  33,  page  22,  line  25,   at end insert—

 

‘(5A)    

If the Scottish Ministers consider it appropriate for the purpose of, or in

 

consequence of, any provision falling within subsection (3)(a), (d), (f) or (g), they

 

may by regulations revoke or amend any subordinate legislation, or any provision

 

included in an instrument made under an Act of the Scottish Parliament, if the

 

provision making the revocation or amendment would be within the legislative

 

competence of the Scottish Parliament if it were included in an Act of that

 

Parliament.’.

 


 

Caroline Lucas

 

100

 

Clause  34,  page  22,  line  37,  after ‘about’, insert ‘energy plans or’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

See explanatory statement relating to amendment 99.

 



 
 

Public Bill Committee: 9 June 2011                     

107

 

Energy Bill [Lords] continued

 
 

Caroline Lucas

 

108

 

Clause  35,  page  22,  line  43,  leave out subsections (2) to (6) and insert—

 

‘(2)    

Before the Code is issued a draft of the code must be approved by resolution of

 

each House of Parliament.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would make the code of practice for the purposes of the Green Deal subject to the

 

affirmative procedure in both Houses of Parliament

 


 

Gregory Barker

 

9

 

Clause  36,  page  23,  line  15,  after ‘Chapter’ insert ‘, other than those made by the

 

Scottish Ministers,’.

 

Caroline Lucas

 

109

 

Clause  36,  page  23,  line  17,  leave out subsections (3) to (5) and insert—

 

‘(3)    

A statutory instrument containing regulations or an order under this chapter shall

 

not be made unless a draft has been laid before, and approved by, resolution of

 

each House of Parliament.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would make any regulations or orders related to the Green Deal subject to the

 

affirmative procedure in both Houses of Parliament.

 

Gregory Barker

 

10

 

Clause  36,  page  23,  line  22,  leave out paragraph (b).

 

Gregory Barker

 

11

 

Clause  36,  page  23,  line  23,   after ‘33’ insert ‘(2)’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

12

 

Clause  36,  page  23,  line  29,  leave out subsection (6) and insert—

 

‘(6)    

Regulations under section 10(2), 14(7) or (8) or 15(4) are subject to the negative

 

procedure.’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

13

 

Clause  36,  page  23,  line  30,  at end insert—

 

‘(6A)    

Regulations under section 33(5A) are subject to the affirmative procedure.’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

50

 

Clause  36,  page  23,  line  44,  at end insert—

 

‘(8A)    

Before amending under section 9 a provision of the Building Regulations 2010

 

(S.I. 2010/2214), the Secretary of State must, if and so far as the function under

 

which the provision was made is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, obtain their

 

consent.’.


 
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Revised 9 June 2011