---

Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) on all the work that he has done on the Bill, and my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Dr. Whitehead) on his work on the issues relating to building regulations that are raised in the new clause. I also welcome the work that was done in Committee on this issue. New clause 5 extends the time limit within which local authorities may bring prosecutions for breaches of those parts of the building regulations designed to conserve fuel and power. We will be strengthening those regulations—known as part L—from 6 April, so that buildings will be 40 per cent. more energy efficient than in 2002. They are particularly important in tackling climate change when building new developments. If the regulations are to make a difference, they need to be complied with. The new clause will increase the time limit for action, so that if local authorities discover a breach up to two years after it has taken place, they can still take action in the courts, rather than having only six months, as they now do. New clause 6 also promotes greater compliance by asking the Government to report back to Parliament on the issue. Extending the time limits for local authorities to take action could improve compliance with all aspects of the building regulations, and we would like to extend to two years the period relating to all aspects of the regulations. However, only certain parts of the regulations fall within the scope of the Bill. We have therefore taken this opportunity to extend the time limit for the regulations relating to energy efficiency, but it is important to recognise that other aspects of the building regulations also need improvement in order to increase compliance.