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Proceeding contribution from Alan Simpson (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 24 February 2010. It occurred during Debate on bill on Energy Bill.


Energy Bill

Absolutely, and we could broaden that point. The same sort of debate took place in California when the state wanted to introduce tighter controls on emissions from vehicles. At the time, the motor industry said, "This will kill the industry. There will be no new investment," but California had the courage to say, "Get lost. If you want to be a player on our roads, you've got to play by the standards we set." I remember days during my childhood when schools were closed because of pea-soup fogs, and we all had to walk home because the buses were cancelled. Fortunately, the Government of the day introduced clean air Acts. They did not introduce tradeable breathing quotas, or personal soot allowances; they introduced clean air legislation that told industry that it had to clean up its act.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
506 c360 
Session
2009-10
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Disclosure of information Consumers Consumption Capital investment Coal fired power stations Carbon capture and storage Fees and charges Licensing EU law Electricity generation Ofgem Electricity Increases Fuel poverty Natural gas Pollution control Prices Standards Carbon emissions Climate Change Committee
Legislation
Energy Bill 2009-10
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk