S.C.C.
Amendment Paper as at
Wednesday 5th April 2000
STANDING COMMITTEE C
Mr David Amess
That, during proceedings on the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Bill, the Committee do meet on Wednesdays at half-past Ten o'clock and at half-past Four o'clock.
WARM HOMES AND ENERGY CONSERVATION BILL
Mr David Amess
2
Clause 1, page 1, line 8, at end insert '; and
(c) in relation to Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.'.
Mr Alan Simpson
3
Clause 1, page 1, line 13, leave out from 'the' to end of line 14 and insert 'need for a household to spend more than ten per cent of its income after housing costs have been paid on keeping the home warm.'.
Mr Tom Brake
Mr Andrew Stunell
4
Clause 1, page 1, line 13, leave out 'at reasonable cost' and insert 'at a cost not greater than ten per cent of the household's disposable income'.
Mr Chris Mullin
1
Page 1, line 5, leave out Clause 1.
Mr Tom Brake
Mr Andrew Stunell
6
Clause 2, page 1, line 18, leave out 'at reasonable cost' and insert 'at a cost not greater than 10 per cent. of the household's disposable income'.
Mr Tom Brake
Mr Andrew Stunell
7
Clause 2, page 2, line 6, leave out paragraph (d).
Mr Tom Brake
Mr Andrew Stunell
8
Clause 2, page 2, line 10, leave out 'at reasonable cost' and insert 'at a cost not greater than 10 per cent. of the household's disposable income'.
Mr Tom Brake
Mr Andrew Stunell
Mr Alan Simpson
9
Clause 2, page 2, line 11, at end insert—
'(3A) The final target shall be not more than fifteen years after the coming into force of this Act.'.
Mr Tom Brake
Mr Andrew Stunell
10
Clause 2, page 2, line 29, after 'necessary' insert 'save that the amended target shall be not more than fifteen years after the coming into force of this Act'.
Mr Chris Mullin
5
Page 1, line 15, leave out Clause 2.
Mr Chris Mullin
11
Page 2, line 32, leave out Clause 3.
Mr Chris Mullin
12
Page 2, line 37, leave out Clause 4.
Mr David Amess
Mr Chris Mullin
13
Clause 5, page 3, line 2, leave out 'or of the National Assembly for Wales'.
Mr David Amess
Mr Chris Mullin
14
Clause 6, page 3, line 7, at end insert—
'(1A) Section (Strategy relating to fuel poverty) shall not come into force as respects Wales until such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.'.
Mr David Amess
15
Clause 6, page 3, line 8, after 'Wales' insert 'and Northern Ireland'.
NEW CLAUSES
Secretary of State's report on costs to devolved administrations
Mr Alan Simpson
NC2
To move the following Clause:—
'. The Secretary of State shall within one year of this Act coming into force publish a report containing—
(a) his assessment of the costs of ensuring that as far as possible the homes of persons in—
are able to be kept warm at reasonable cost; and
(b) his assessment of any changes required to the provision of monies to—
(i) the Scottish Parliament,
(ii) the National Assembly for Wales,
(iii) the Northern Ireland Assembly
in order that these bodies may meet the costs assessed under paragraph (a) above.'.
Strategy relating to fuel poverty
Mr Chris Mullin
NC1
To move the following Clause:—
'.—(1) It shall be the duty of the appropriate authority to prepare and publish, before the end of the period of twelve months beginning with the relevant commencement, a strategy setting out the authority's policies for ensuring, by means including the promotion of the efficient use of energy, that as far as reasonably practicable the homes of persons on lower incomes can be kept warm at reasonable cost.
(2) The strategy must set out objectives to be achieved and target dates for achieving them.
(3) In preparing the strategy or any revision of the strategy, the appropriate authority shall consult—
(a) the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority and the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council, and
(b) such other persons as the appropriate authority thinks fit.
(4) The appropriate authority shall take such steps as are in its opinion necessary to implement the strategy.
(5) The appropriate authority shall—
(a) from time to time assess the impact of steps taken under subsection (4) and the progress made in achieving the objectives,
(b) make any revision of the strategy which the authority considers appropriate in consequence of the assessment,
(c) from time to time publish reports on such assessments.
(6) If the appropriate authority revises the strategy, it shall publish the strategy as revised.
(7) Any strategy complying with this section which was published by the Secretary of State within six months before the passing of this Act shall be taken to have been published under this section.
(8) In this section—
"the appropriate authority" means—
(a) as respects England, the Secretary of State, and
(b) as respects Wales, the National Assembly for Wales;
"the relevant commencement" means—
(a) as respects England, the day on which this Act is passed, and
(b) as respects Wales, the day on which this section comes into force as respects Wales.
(9) In relation to any time before the commencement of section 3(1) of the Utilities Act 2000, the reference in subsection (3)(a) to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority and the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council shall have effect as a reference to the Director General of Gas Supply and the Director General of Electricity Supply.'
Mr Chris Mullin
16
Title, line 1, leave out from 'to' to end of line 4 and insert 'publish and implement a strategy for'.
Mr Chris Mullin
17
Title, line 6, leave out 'achievement of that programme' and insert 'implementation of that strategy'.
