Topical question asked in the House of Commons, by Barry Sheerman (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 25 February 2010 on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Topical Questions

Question: Will my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State look closely at what is happening in terms of sustainability and progressive environmental policies in Kirklees council, in whose area my constituency sits? Will he particularly examine the warm zone initiative, which is so successful that many local authorities are coming to look at it? May I invite him to come and look at it himself?

Answer: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will have to answer for himself on whether he can go and look at that, but many of us have had conversations with Kirklees council and visited it, because there is no question but that it has been exemplary and pioneered work involving local government, energy companies and community groups all working together to get community solutions. It was part of the inspiration behind the community energy saving programme, which the Government recently rolled out and which is going extremely well. The programme will provide £350 million of funding in order that we get such real community endeavours off the ground on the same basis as Kirklees' pioneering warm zones.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 506 c446-7
Session: 2009-10
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Kirklees Warm zones programme Climate change Economics of Climate Change Review
Link: View this Topical question on www.publications.parliament.uk