That this House notes that there are estimated to be one million houses in multiple occupation (HMO) units in England housing some of the UK's most vulnerable citizens; further notes that according to the Department for Communities and Local Government, HMOs are frequently 'old and highly inefficient in terms of energy use' and that a recent report for the EAGA Charitable Trust, Housing in Multiple Occupancy: Energy Issues and Policy, has found that problems with damp, mould and associated health concerns are frequent for those living in HMOs; regrets that there are currently no legislative drivers to improve the energy efficiency of HMOs and the lives of their residents; further notes with interest that Bath and North East Somerset Council requires HMOs to reach energy performance certificate band E as a condition of licensing under the Housing Act 2004; therefore supports the Houses in Multiple Occupation (Energy Performance Certificates and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) Bill introduced on 21 July 2014 by the hon. Member for Southampton Test, which will bring HMOs within the scope of the minimum energy efficiency standard for the private rented sector under the Energy Act 2011 and build on the example set by Bath and North East Somerset Council by requiring all local housing authorities to make a minimum energy efficiency standard a mandatory condition of HMO licensing; and urges the Government to introduce these legislative changes as soon as possible.

That this House notes that there are estimated to be one million houses in multiple occupation (HMO) units in England housing some of the UK's most vulnerable citizens; further notes that according to the Department for Communities and Local Government, HMOs are frequently 'old and highly inefficient in terms of...

That this House believes that greater energy efficiency and the installation of cost-effective measures to generate energy from buildings can reduce fuel bills, and assist with the alleviation of fuel poverty and with achieving low carbon homes; notes with interest that the Sustainable Energy Association Manifesto demonstrates how, using the Department of Energy and Climate Change figures, an energy from buildings strategy could save every person in the UK £186 per year, and the UK economy nearly £12 billion each year; and therefore supports the Energy (Buildings and Reduction of Fuel Use) Bill which will require the Secretary of State to draw up and implement a strategy to promote such measures.

That this House believes that greater energy efficiency and the installation of cost-effective measures to generate energy from buildings can reduce fuel bills, and assist with the alleviation of fuel poverty and with achieving low carbon homes; notes with interest that the Sustainable Energy Association Manifesto demonstrates how, using the...

That this House is concerned about the effect of rising energy prices on the ability of people to keep warm in winter and therefore supports the provisions of the Energy Efficiency and Reduction in Energy Costs Bill introduced on 11 December 2012; notes that the provisions of the Bill are very similar to Clause 13(2) of the Family Justice (Transparency, Accountability and Cost of Living) Bill that failed to receive a Second Reading on 26 October 2012; further notes that the Minister said during the debate on that Bill that `my hon. Friend makes an interesting suggestion about the use of Building Regulations... use of regulations is one of the options that the Department's officials areexploring...' (26 October 2012, Official Report, column 1254); and urges the Minister responsible for building regulations to respond positively to this new Bill.

That this House is concerned about the effect of rising energy prices on the ability of people to keep warm in winter and therefore supports the provisions of the Energy Efficiency and Reduction in Energy Costs Bill introduced on 11 December 2012; notes that the provisions of the Bill are...

That this House recognises the important role of micro combined heat and power (micro CHP) in reducing fuel bills and emissions of carbon dioxide and in helping to deal with fuel poverty; welcomes the Micro CHP Vision: 1 million by 2020 document drawn up by the nine leading companies that develop micro CHP technology; further welcomes the industry's response to the two Government consultations contained in that document; and hopes that the Government will accept these suggestions.

That this House recognises the important role of micro combined heat and power (micro CHP) in reducing fuel bills and emissions of carbon dioxide and in helping to deal with fuel poverty; welcomes the Micro CHP Vision: 1 million by 2020 document drawn up by the nine leading companies that...

That this House welcomes the recommendation by the Environmental Audit Committee in its July 2011 report Budget 2011 and Environmental Taxes that `the Government should consider providing tax incentives, such as a council tax rebate or stamp duty discount, in next year's Budget to support the take-up of the Green Deal'; further welcomes too the commitment in Budget 2011 to `act to incentivise take-up of the Green Deal before it is introduced in 2012'; notes that the existing reduced rate offive per cent. VAT for energy-saving products excludes energy efficient boilers and windows and passive flue gas heat recovery systems; is concerned that the Landlords' Energy Saving Allowance (LESA) is claimed by less than 0.2 per cent. of UK landlords; therefore calls on the Government to introduce in Budget 2012 a package of fiscal incentives to encourage householders and landlords to install energy efficiency measures, to include afive per cent. VAT rate on all flue heat recovery installations and alsoon `A' rated boilers and `B' rated windows installed by Green Deal-accredited installers, a stamp duty rebate for purchasers making energy efficiency improvements to their home and an extended and increased LESA to incentivise early improvements in the private rented sector before the introduction of the minimum energy efficiency standard; and further calls for an early consultation on a revised system of Council Tax banding that reflects the energy efficiency rating of properties, accompanied by mechanisms to enable low income households to make improvements at low or no cost.

That this House welcomes the recommendation by the Environmental Audit Committee in its July 2011 report Budget 2011 and Environmental Taxes that `the Government should consider providing tax incentives, such as a council tax rebate or stamp duty discount, in next year's Budget to support the take-up of the Green...

That this House notes that micro combined heat and power (mCHP) has the potential for significant reductions to household carbon dioxide emissions and fuel bills; further notes that the vast majority of residential heating systems according to the Renewable Heat Incentive's Regulatory Impact Assessment and the Fourth Carbon Budget report will continue to be gas fired for at least a further two decades; further notes that most of the world's technology and manufacturing development for mCHP is currently based in the UK with consequent opportunities for considerable exports, and so welcomes the warm words of the Minister for Climate Change about mCHP during the proceedings of the Public Bill Committee on the Energy Bill [Lords] of 21 June 2011, written evidence, columns 444-6, and his statement that his Department has `progressed the agenda' and `thatthe industry will be presenting Government with proposals for progressing this technology', 18 October 2011, Official Report, columns 804-5W; further notes that eight leading companies in the industry have now declared their joint vision for a large increase in the number of installations by 2020; and calls on the Government to bring forward policies to achieve that objective and to produce a report withinone year of its vision for this important technology.

That this House notes that micro combined heat and power (mCHP) has the potential for significant reductions to household carbon dioxide emissions and fuel bills; further notes that the vast majority of residential heating systems according to the Renewable Heat Incentive's Regulatory Impact Assessment and the Fourth Carbon Budget report...

That this House calls on the Government to accept a level of 1950 megatons for the Fourth Carbon Budget, as recommended by the Committee on Climate Change.

That this House calls on the Government to accept a level of 1950 megatons for the Fourth Carbon Budget, as recommended by the Committee on Climate Change.

That this House is concerned that unsustainable biofuels can have serious environmental impacts and may also release more carbon into the atmosphere than they save; notes that the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation gives the same financial reward to all biofuels, regardless of their sustainability; welcomes the provisions in the EU Renewable Energy Directive to ban biofuels production from land of high biodiversity or former high carbon stock, as well as requiring minimum greenhouse gas savings; further notes that the deadline for implementation of these provisions is 5 December 2010; further notes with concern that no decisions have yet been taken on UK implementation and that this deadline will be missed, possibly by several months; is extremely concerned that, until binding standards are implemented, the UK will continue to provide financial support for unsustainable biofuels; and therefore calls on the Government to implement the sustainability standards in the Renewable Energy Directive as soon as possible.

That this House is concerned that unsustainable biofuels can have serious environmental impacts and may also release more carbon into the atmosphere than they save; notes that the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation gives the same financial reward to all biofuels, regardless of their sustainability; welcomes the provisions in the EU...

That this House welcomes the words of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change that no public money will be used to finance new nuclear power stations; and calls on him to explain what is meant by the term no public money, in particular by clarifying whether it includes the 1.6 billion per annum paid from the public purse to the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency, the donations made to international nuclear research and promotional bodies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, the EU's Euratom nuclear agency and to national bodies, including the National Nuclear Laboratory, the Nuclear Academy and the Nuclear Institute, the costs of additional anti-terrorism measures necessary if new nuclear power stations are built, and not otherwise required to protect non-nuclear energy installations, and the underwriting by the Government of the insurance liabilities of nuclear power stations or increases in fuel bills attributable to construction of new nuclear power stations.

That this House welcomes the words of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change that no public money will be used to finance new nuclear power stations; and calls on him to explain what is meant by the term no public money, in particular by clarifying whether it...

That this House notes the major contribution that renewable heat can make in meeting the UK's legally binding renewable energy target, creating green jobs and reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels; further notes the Coalition Agreement's statement of intent to increase this target; supports the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI); further notes that current Ministers voted in the previous Parliament in support of the RHI and that industry confidence in the RHI has led to considerable investment in green jobs, manufacturing and installation capacity; and believes it is critically important for the Government to move quickly to maintain this confidence by making clear its intent to proceed with the RHI broadly in line with the recent consultation, subject to further consideration of the details and after full consideration of the consultation responses.

That this House notes the major contribution that renewable heat can make in meeting the UK's legally binding renewable energy target, creating green jobs and reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels; further notes the Coalition Agreement's statement of intent to increase this target; supports the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI);...

That this House believes that new and emerging technologies such a voltage optimisation, passive flue gas heat retention systems, standby down-powering and other innovative ideas could have a significant effect in combating climate change and fuel poverty; and calls on the Government to consult on the usefulness and development of these technologies as part of the microgeneration strategy consultation required by the Green Energy Act 2009 or in a separate consultation, and to report to Parliament on the results.

That this House believes that new and emerging technologies such a voltage optimisation, passive flue gas heat retention systems, standby down-powering and other innovative ideas could have a significant effect in combating climate change and fuel poverty; and calls on the Government to consult on the usefulness and development of...

That this House remains concerned about the problem of fuel poverty; notes that the Fuel Poverty Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome did not get a Second Reading on 20 March 2009; further notes that the Government's objections were the absolutist nature of the Bill and its possible inconsistency with the Government's own home refurbishment plan as set out in the Heat and Energy Savings Strategy; believes, however, that these two objections have been overcome in the Fuel Poverty (No. 2) Bill introduced by a group of Labour hon. Members; calls upon the Government to support the Fuel Poverty (No. 2) Bill, which will help them to deliver not only on their manifesto pledges to end fuel poverty but also the provisions of their Heat and Energy Saving Strategy; and therefore hopes that the Bill will become law in the current Session of Parliament.

That this House remains concerned about the problem of fuel poverty; notes that the Fuel Poverty Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome did not get a Second Reading on 20 March 2009; further notes that the Government's objections were the absolutist nature of the Bill and...

That this House notes with extreme concern plans by South West Trains to close ticket offices and cut ticket office opening hours at 114 stations; believes that such cuts cannot be justified when these stations have seen a combined increase in passengers of nearly 27 per cent. in the last year; is further concerned that the cuts will dramatically increase the number of stations that will lose their ticket offices entirely during weekends and will leave stations unstaffed at weekends and in the evening making railway stations and passengers who use them feel less secure; believes that replacing staff with ticket machines will also reduce the quality and range of services available to passengers; and calls on South West Trains immediately to withdraw its plans.

That this House notes with extreme concern plans by South West Trains to close ticket offices and cut ticket office opening hours at 114 stations; believes that such cuts cannot be justified when these stations have seen a combined increase in passengers of nearly 27 per cent. in the last...

That this House expresses support for the provisions contained within the Microgeneration and Local Energy Bill introduced in the last session by the hon. Member for Southampton Test, on promoting microgeneration, local energy and energy conservation; believes that these measures would make a significant contribution to combating climate change; and looks forward to such provisions being brought forward in the 2007-08 Session.

That this House expresses support for the provisions contained within the Microgeneration and Local Energy Bill introduced in the last session by the hon. Member for Southampton Test, on promoting microgeneration, local energy and energy conservation; believes that these measures would make a significant contribution to combating climate change; and...

That this House notes with concern that users of pre-pay meters (PPMs), who, according to Ofgem research, are concentrated amongst low-income consumers, pay as much as ??123 per year more for their gas and electricity than other account-based users; acknowledges that PPMs can incur additional unit and infrastructure costs, but notes that this has not prevented some major suppliers from equalising PPM tariffs for electricity with standard credit tariffs; further notes with concern that recent price cuts from some suppliers leave most PPM customers further adrift from consumers paying by other methods; and supports the calls made by the National Housing Federation and housing associations to the major suppliers to align all PPM tariffs with standard credit rates to help bring low-income consumers in from the cold.

That this House notes with concern that users of pre-pay meters (PPMs), who, according to Ofgem research, are concentrated amongst low-income consumers, pay as much as ??123 per year more for their gas and electricity than other account-based users; acknowledges that PPMs can incur additional unit and infrastructure costs, but...

That this House notes that the commercial and public services sector has the fastest growing energy use apart from aviation, and that its use of electricity, which has a particularly high carbon footprint, is projected to increase by nearly 45 per cent. from 1990 to 2020; notes with concern that, according to the Department for Trade and Industry's updated projections, the UK will undershoot by 9.4 per cent. its domestic target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010; further notes that the new policy measures announced in the revised Climate Change Programme are projected to deliver emissions reduction of only 15 to 18 per cent., leaving the UK still two to five per cent. adrift of its target; is concerned that, according to the Government's Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan, action to reduce energy consumption in the commercial sector is not achieving its full potential, and therefore agrees that it is both cost-effective and practicable to reduce energy usage in this sector by 10 per cent. below 2005 levels by 2010 and by a further 10 per cent. below 2010 levels by 2020 as confirmed in Written Answers by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; welcomes the Climate Change (Commercial and Public Services Sector) Bill introduced in the last parliamentary session; and joins the 315 hon. Members who signed Early Day Motion No. 2378 in the 2005-06 parliamentary session in supporting that Bill.

That this House notes that the commercial and public services sector has the fastest growing energy use apart from aviation, and that its use of electricity, which has a particularly high carbon footprint, is projected to increase by nearly 45 per cent. from 1990 to 2020; notes with concern that,...

That this House notes that the Management of Energy in Buildings Bill, promoted in the last session by the hon. Member for Southampton Test, contained provisions to amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (SI 1995 No. 418) to provide that a `small renewable energy development is classed as a permitted development within the meaning of that Order', notes that the provisions of the Bill were later adopted into the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006, promoted by the hon. Member for Edinburgh North and Leith; welcomes the comments by the hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford that `it is patently absurd that you should be able to put a satellite dish up on your house but should have to wrestle with the planning process for small scale microgeneration which is no more obtrusive'; and calls on the Government to amend the law on permitted development accordingly as soon as possible.

That this House notes that the Management of Energy in Buildings Bill, promoted in the last session by the hon. Member for Southampton Test, contained provisions to amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (SI 1995 No. 418) to provide that a `small renewable energy development...

That this House notes with concern that, according to the Department for Trade and Industry's updated projections, the UK will undershoot by 9.4 per cent. its domestic target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010; further notes that the new policy measures announced in the revised Climate Change Programme are projected to deliver emissions reductions of only 15 to 18 per cent., leaving the UK still 2 to 5 per cent. adrift of its target; further notes that the commercial and public services sector has the fastest growing energy use apart from aviation, and that its use of electricity, which has a particularly high carbon footprint, is projected to increase by nearly 45 per cent. from 1990 to 2020; is concerned that, according to the Government's Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan, action to reduce energy consumption in the commercial sector `is not achieving its full potential'; further notes that in recent Written Answers the Department for Enviroment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed that it is both cost-effective and practicable to reduce energy usage in this sector by 10 per cent. below 2005 levels by 2010 and by a further 10 per cent. below 2010 levels by 2020; and therefore welcomes the introduction with cross-party support by the hon. Member for Southampton, Test of the Climate Change (Commerical and Public Services Sector) Bill, which sets targets to reduce energy usage by these amounts, and requires the Government to lay before Parliament a report specifying targets for energy production in the commercial sector from renewable sources, combined heat and power and microgeneration.

That this House notes with concern that, according to the Department for Trade and Industry's updated projections, the UK will undershoot by 9.4 per cent. its domestic target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010; further notes that the new policy measures announced...

That this House welcomes the increasing demand for rail travel but is concerned that no plans currently exist to increase capacity on the railways, and alleviate congestion on parts of the rail network which are already congested; and, therefore, supports Transport 2000's Growing the Railways campaign, as endorsed by 21 organisations, which calls on the Government to draw up a clear investment planning framework for rail, through the High Level Output Statement, which ensures that money spent is used more efficiently, promotes partnership working, appraising rail projects fairly, and, above all, plans for an expanding railway for passengers and freight.

That this House welcomes the increasing demand for rail travel but is concerned that no plans currently exist to increase capacity on the railways, and alleviate congestion on parts of the rail network which are already congested; and, therefore, supports Transport 2000's Growing the Railways campaign, as endorsed by 21...

That this House notes the contribution of Building Regulations to improving the energy efficiency of buildings and achieving the UK's emission reduction targets; welcomes the improvements to Part L of the Building Regulations (Conservation of Fuel and Power), announced in September 2005; further notes that a further review, led by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, is underway with a stakeholder consultation due in Spring 2006 aimed at increasing the sustainability of existing dwellings; and hopes that this review will result in the new improved standards for conservatories being extended to all conservatories, not just those over 30 square metres as is currently the case, and a requirement that the building of an extension should trigger consequential energy efficiency improvements to the existing building in order to avoid increasing its overall carbon footprint, and notes that both of these proposals were included in earlier drafts of the revised building regulations.

That this House notes the contribution of Building Regulations to improving the energy efficiency of buildings and achieving the UK's emission reduction targets; welcomes the improvements to Part L of the Building Regulations (Conservation of Fuel and Power), announced in September 2005; further notes that a further review, led by...