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Health Care and Energy Efficiency Bill

This is the text of the Health Care and Energy Efficiency Bill, as presented to the House of Commons on 13th January 1999.

 
 
  
Health Care and Energy Efficiency Bill
 
 
 
 
ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES
Clause 
1.Guidance from the Secretary of State.
2.Corresponding provision for Northern Ireland.
3.Expenses.
4.Short title, extent and commencement.
 

 

 
 
A

B I L L

TO

Require certain health bodies to draw up reports on ways in which they may use energy efficiency schemes to assist persons living in fuel poverty to heat their homes.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-
 

Guidance from the Secretary of State.     1. - (1) The Secretary of State shall, not more than 12 months after the passing of this Act, issue guidance to Health Authorities and Health Boards on the inclusion in their Health Improvement Programmes or Local Planning Strategies of annual assessments of the ways in which they should promote or assist with the implementation of energy efficiency schemes in their areas.
 
      (2) The Secretary of State may from time to time revise and reissue any guidance issued under subsection (1).
 
      (3) Guidance under this section may include-
 
 
    (a) recommendations as to persons who should be consulted by an Authority or Board when drawing up an assessment of the kind referred to in subsection (1);
 
    (b) advice on the role of energy efficiency schemes in the eradication of fuel poverty;
 
    (c) advice on the role of energy efficiency schemes in the reduction of illnesses caused by or related to fuel poverty;
 
    (d) recommendations as to the ways in which the Authorities and Boards may work with local authorities to promote or assist with the implementation of energy efficiency schemes in their areas.
      (4) A Health Authority or Health Board shall have regard to any guidance issued under this section.
 
      (5) An energy efficiency scheme in the area of a Health Authority or Health Board is a scheme directed at preventative health care which-
 
 
    (a) provides for the investigation and identification in that area of fuel poverty, that is to say, the inability of persons to heat their homes adequately and efficiently either because the home is not insulated properly or because the home is otherwise not efficiently heated;
 
    (b) provides for the investigation of the incidence of health problems in that area which in the opinion of the Authority or Board may be caused or exacerbated by fuel poverty; and
 
    (c) specifies measures which may be taken, whether by the Authority or Board or by any other person, to alleviate fuel poverty and related health problems in that area.
      (6) In this section-
 
 
    "Health Authority" has the meaning given in the National Health Service Act 1977;
 
    "Health Board" has the meaning given in the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978;
 
    "local authority"-
 
      (a) in England and Wales, has the meaning given in Part I of the Local Government Act 1999, and
 
      (b) in Scotland, shall mean a council within the meaning of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.
Corresponding provision for Northern Ireland.     2. An Order in Council under paragraph 1(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974 which states that it is made for purposes corresponding to those of this Act-
 
 
    (a) shall not be subject to paragraph 1(4) and (5) of that Schedule (affirmative resolution of both Houses of Parliament), but
 
    (b) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Expenses.     3. There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament any increase attributable to this Act in the sums so payable under any other enactment.
 
Short title, extent and commencement.     4. - (1) This Act may be cited as the Health Care and Energy Efficiency Act 1999.
 
      (2) For the purposes of the Scotland Act 1998 this Act shall be deemed to be a pre-commencement enactment within the meaning of that Act.
 
      (3) Section 1 does not extend to Northern Ireland.
 
      (4) This Act shall come into force on 1st January 2000.
 
 

 
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