Session 2010 - 12
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Other Bills before Parliament


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 16 June 2011                     

261

 

Energy Bill-[Lords], continued

 
 

Smart metering strategy

 

Luciana Berger

 

Huw Irranca-Davies

 

Dr Alan Whitehead

 

NC36

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Secretary of State must, following consultation with energy consumers and

 

other interested parties, prepare and publish a strategy to assist suppliers to

 

deliver the intended benefits of smart meters to consumers, including in particular

 

low income and vulnerable consumers. In preparing the strategy the Secretary of

 

State must set out how the smart meter rollout will—

 

(a)    

deliver to consumers and taxpayers the benefits identified in the

 

Government’s Impact Assessment;

 

(b)    

contribute to the carbon targets specified in the Climate Change Act

 

2008;

 

(c)    

contribute to the elimination of fuel poverty as specified in the Warm

 

Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; and

 

(d)    

contribute to wider Government policy goals in particular, digital access,

 

healthy living and water affordability.’.

 


 

Smart meter rollout—annual report

 

Luciana Berger

 

Huw Irranca-Davies

 

Dr Alan Whitehead

 

NC37

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

It is the duty of the Secretary of State to report to Parliament or an appropriate

 

parliamentary committee on the progress of smart meter rollout every year

 

starting from six months after the coming into force of the Act. The report should

 

cover progress on the delivery of smart meters to domestic and micro-businesses,

 

including—

 

(a)    

progress against the smart metering impact assessments;

 

(b)    

the number of smart meters installed in the United Kingdom including

 

any national or regional trend;

 

(c)    

the estimated benefits to consumers, taxpayers and industry of the smart

 

meter rollout, with particular reference to low income and vulnerable

 

consumers;

 

(d)    

estimated effects on the levels of fuel poverty;

 

(e)    

the estimated energy and carbon reduction from the smart meter rollout;

 

(f)    

the degree to which interoperability of smart meters has been achieved;

 

(g)    

customer satisfaction indicators, including levels of complaint; and


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 16 June 2011                     

262

 

Energy Bill-[Lords], continued

 
 

(h)    

security of smart meters and smart grids including in relation to privacy

 

and commercial confidentiality.’.

 


 

Disclosure of energy performance certificates in connection with sale or letting out

 

Luciana Berger

 

Huw Irranca-Davies

 

NC38

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

This section applies where—

 

(a)    

a property, or a lease of a property, is to be sold; or

 

(b)    

a property is to be let out—

 

(i)    

under a tenancy or licence agreement; and

 

(ii)    

on the basis that the prospective tenant or licensee is to be liable

 

for paying the energy bills for the property.

 

(2)    

The seller or prospective landlord or licensor must—

 

(a)    

obtain a valid energy performance certificate in accordance with energy

 

performance regulations made under the Building Act 1984 or any

 

succeeding energy performance legislation; and

 

(b)    

provide this certificate free of charge to any prospective buyer, tenant or

 

licensee at the specified time.

 

(3)    

An obligation under subsection (2) may be discharged by an agent.

 

(4)    

For the purposes of subsection (2), a person becomes a prospective buyer, tenant

 

or licensee in relation to a property when the person—

 

(a)    

requests any information about the property from the seller, prospective

 

landlord or licensor or an agent for the purpose of deciding whether to

 

buy or let the property;

 

(b)    

makes a request to view the property for the purpose mentioned in

 

paragraph (a); or

 

(c)    

makes an offer, whether oral or written, to buy or let the property.

 

(5)    

For the purposes of subsection (2), an energy performance certificate is only valid

 

if—

 

(a)    

the certificate relates to a period that is no more than one year from the

 

time that the certificate was issued; and

 

(b)    

the person required to provide the certificate has no reasonable grounds

 

to suspect that the energy performance information on the certificate is

 

no longer accurate.

 

(6)    

For the purposes of this section—

 

(a)    

an agent is a person acting on behalf of a seller or prospective landlord or

 

licensor in the sale or letting out of a property;

 

(b)    

specified, in relation to time, means specified in regulations made by the

 

Secretary of State.’.

 



 
 

Public Bill Committee: 16 June 2011                     

263

 

Energy Bill-[Lords], continued

 
 

Supplementing the Energy Company Obligation

 

Caroline Lucas

 

NC39

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Secretary of State must, within six months of this Bill receiving Royal

 

Assent, report to Parliament with proposals on the ways in which the Energy

 

Company Obligation could be supplemented by—

 

(a)    

auction revenues from the European Union Emissions Trading System,

 

(b)    

revenues from the Carbon Floor Price, and

 

(c)    

such other funds as considered appropriate by the Secretary of State.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This New Clause requires the Secretary of State to produce a report on the potential for using

 

public funds to supplement the Energy Company Obligation.

 


 

Support from the Green Investment Bank

 

Caroline Lucas

 

NC40

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Secretary of State must, within six months of this Bill receiving Royal

 

Assent, report to Parliament with proposals on the ways in which the Green

 

Investment Bank could maximise the take-up of the Green Deal.

 

(2)    

The report required by subsection (1) shall include an examination of the extent

 

to which interest rates linked to the repayment of Green Deal loans can be

 

lowered through action taken by the Green Investment Bank, and the impact this

 

may have on consumer demand.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This New Clause would require the Secretary of State to produce a report on the ways in which the

 

Green Investment Bank could support take-up of the Green Deal, in particular by taking action to

 

lower the interest rates applied to Green Deal loans.

 


 

Minimum energy efficiency standards

 

Caroline Lucas

 

NC41

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Secretary of State shall make regulations for the purpose of securing that—

 

(a)    

a landlord of a domestic PR property, or

 

(b)    

the appointed agent of a landlord of a domestic PR property

 

    

which falls below a specified minimum standard of energy efficiency (as

 

demonstrated by the energy performance certificate) shall not let or market to let


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 16 June 2011                     

264

 

Energy Bill-[Lords], continued

 
 

the property until such time as the landlord can demonstrate that the property

 

meets the specified minimum standard for a domestic PR property.

 

(2)    

For the purposes of domestic minimum standard regulations—

 

“energy performance certificate” has the meaning given by the Energy

 

Performance Regulations;

 

“landlord”, “local authority” and “appointed agent” have the meanings

 

given by the regulations; and

 

(3)    

Specified minimum energy efficiency standards shall be applied as follows—

 

(a)    

properties with an energy rating of Band F or lower shall not be let or

 

marketed for let from 1 January 2015;

 

(b)    

properties with an energy rating of Band E or lower shall not be let or

 

marketed for let from 1 January 2016;

 

(c)    

properties with an energy rating of Band D or lower shall not be let or

 

marketed for let from 1 January 2019;

 

(d)    

properties with an energy rating of Band C or lower shall not be let or

 

marketed for let from 1 January 2022;

 

(4)    

The Secretary of State must prepare and publish a plan for achieving the principle

 

purpose set out in paragraph (a)—

 

(a)    

from 2030, all properties let or marketed for let must have an energy

 

rating of Band A.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This New Clause outlines a timetable for progressively improving the energy efficiency of homes

 

in the private rented sector up to 2022, and requires the Secretary of State to set out a plan for

 

ensuring that by 2030, only the most energy efficient properties can be rented .

 


 

Moratorium on offshore drilling in the Artic and other fragile/hazardous environments

 

Caroline Lucas

 

NC43

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

All companies registered in the United Kingdom for the purposes of the

 

Companies Act 2006, or currently engaged in offshore oil and gas exploration or

 

production on the continental shelf of the United Kingdom, shall be subject to a

 

moratorium on all offshore oil and gas activities in—

 

(a)    

the Artic Circle;

 

(b)    

such environments as the Secretary of State shall deem appropriate, or

 

(c)    

such areas or regions as the Secretary of State shall deem appropriate.

 

(2)    

The Secretary of State shall, within six months of this Bill receiving Royal

 

Assent, cause to be published a list of all environments, areas or regions to which

 

this moratorium shall apply.

 

(3)    

This moratorium shall apply—

 

(a)    

until the Secretary of State is satisfied, on the basis of advice from an

 

independent scientific commission, that such operations can be carried

 

out without unreasonable risk to the environment; and

 

(b)    

for a period of no less than five years from this Bill receiving Royal

 

Assent.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This New Clause would prohibit companies registered in the UK, or engaged in oil and gas


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 16 June 2011                     

265

 

Energy Bill-[Lords], continued

 
 

activities in UK waters, from engaging in offshore oil and gas exploration in the Artic Circle or

 

other such areas as the Secretary of State feels is appropriate, for a minimum of five years.

 


 

Publication and consultation on oil pollution emergency plans

 

Luciana Berger

 

Huw Irranca-Davies

 

NC44

 

Parliamentary Star - white    

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

Any person or persons submitting an Oil Pollution Emergency Plan, as required

 

under the Offshore Installations (Emergency Pollution Control) Regulations 2002

 

and the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution and Preparedness, Response Co-

 

operation Convention) Regulations 1998 shall at the same time make this plan

 

available for public consultation, and comment.

 

(2)    

The Secretary of State shall, within six months of this Bill receiving Royal

 

Assent, publish regulations detailing the procedure for public consultation and

 

comment.

 

(3)    

The Department for Energy and Climate Change shall, upon approval of an Oil

 

Pollution Emergency Plan, publish said plan and any relevant accompanying

 

documents on their website.’.

 


 

Adherence to UK standards for oil and gas production and extraction

 

Luciana Berger

 

Huw Irranca-Davies

 

NC45

 

Parliamentary Star - white    

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

Any company registerd in the United Kingdom, shall be required to demonstrate

 

that in undertaking any offshore oil and gas exploration or production activity

 

outside of UK territory it has met all the conditions and standards which would

 

apply to such activity when undertaken lawfully on the UK continental shelf.’.

 


 

Local carbon budgets

 

Caroline Lucas

 

NC46

 

Parliamentary Star    

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Secretary of State shall—

 

(a)    

within 12 months of this Bill receiving Royal Assent, report to

 

Parliament with proposals for the introduction of a system of local carbon


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 16 June 2011                     

266

 

Energy Bill-[Lords], continued

 
 

budgets consistent with meeting national Climate Change Act 2008

 

carbon budgets;

 

(b)    

introduce the local carbon budget system to begin at the start of the

 

second national carbon budget period;

 

(c)    

report to Parliament annually about the contribution of local strategies to

 

meeting UK Climate Change Act carbon budgets;

 

(d)    

determine circumstances in which two or more councils may develop a

 

joint strategy for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in their areas.

 

(2)    

The Secretary of State shall request advice from the Committee on Climate

 

Change about—

 

(a)    

the scale of action need in local authority areas to help meet UK Climate

 

Change Act carbon budgets;

 

(b)    

climate mitigation and adaptation policies that are effective when locally

 

coordinated by councils;

 

(c)    

ensuring that individual local carbon budgets are both appropriate for the

 

circumstances of different local areas and that the totality of all local

 

carbon budgets is consistent with the requirements of subsection (1)(a).

 

(3)    

The proposals to be reported under subsection (1) shall include a duty on local

 

authorities to—

 

(a)    

develop a strategy, through consultation with those groups and

 

individuals listed in subsection (3)(b), for cutting greenhouse gas

 

emissions across their local area in line with meeting their local carbon

 

budget;

 

(b)    

work in partnership with local residents, businesses and stakeholders,

 

including social enterprises and co-operatives, community groups,

 

schools and hospitals, and other institutions in drawing up and

 

implementing the strategy detailed in (3)(a);

 

(c)    

wherever possible, develop proposals consistent with a reduction in

 

greenhouse gas emissions in their local authority area of 90 per cent. by

 

2030, compared to 1990 emissions levels;

 

(d)    

publish and promote an annual report on progress towards meeting their

 

local carbon budget; and

 

(e)    

request additional powers or financial support from the Secretary of State

 

as they consider necessary to meet the duty set in section (2), which shall

 

not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(4)    

Any regulations or order made under section (1) shall not be made unless a draft

 

has been laid before, and approved by, resolution of each House of Parliament.’.

 


 

Gregory Barker

 

76

 

Title,  line  7,  after ‘infrastructure’, insert ‘and downstream gas processing facilities’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

77

 

Title,  line  10,  after ‘electricity;’, insert ‘about the security of nuclear construction sites;’.


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 16 June 2011                     

267

 

Energy Bill-[Lords], continued

 
 

Gregory Barker

 

28

 

Title,  line  10,  after ‘sites;’ insert ‘for an annual report on contribution to carbon

 

emissions reduction targets; for action relating to the energy efficiency of residential

 

accommodation in England;’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

78

 

Title,  line  10,  after ‘sites’, insert ‘and offshore infrastructure; for the use of pipelines for

 

carbon capture and storage’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

79

 

Title,  line  10,  after ‘sites;’, insert ‘about renewable heat incentives in Northern Ireland;’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

172

 

Title,  line  10,  after ‘sites;’ insert ‘for the generation of electricity from renewable sources

 

by a National Park authority or the Broads Authority;’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

80

 

Title,  line  11,  after ‘Authority;’, insert ‘for an amendment of section 137 of the Energy

 

Act 2004;’.

 

Gregory Barker

 

81

 

Title,  line  11,  after third ‘the’, insert ‘amendment and’.

 

 

Order of the House [10 maY 2011]

 

That the following provisions shall apply to the Energy Bill [Lords]—

 

Committal

 

1.    

The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.

 

Proceedings in Public Bill Committee

 

2.    

Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously

 

concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Tuesday 21 June 2011.

 

3.    

The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on

 

which it meets.

 

Consideration and Third Reading

 

4.    

Proceedings on consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be

 

brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the

 

day on which those proceedings are commenced.

 

5.    

Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be

 

brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.

 

6.    

Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to

 

proceedings on consideration and Third Reading.


 
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Revised 16 June 2011