That this House expresses its surprise, dismay and outrage that the newly appointed Minister for Energy Conservation, the honourable Member for West Hertfordshire, should permit a member of his own party to once again block the Energy Conservation Bill on Friday 21st October despite the fact that the Bill is supported by almost 400 honourable Members, well over half of this House, surprise because the Minister himself is a sponsor of the Bill, and at a promotional reception for the Bill held in the Jubilee Room on 2nd December 1993 stated that he was 'very glad to be here to support the energy Conservation Bill. It is a measure that is long overdue. I shall urge my colleagues who have been successful in the ballot to adopt it and I shall urge the Government to support it', dismay because the Government's lack of commitment to a national target for energy conservation coupled with the imposition of VAT on fuel will lead to many people, especially the elderly, being cold and ill in their homes during winter time, and outrage because this is yet another example of dishonourable, sleazy conduct and broken promises by this Government on this matter of fuel prices and energy conservation.

That this House expresses its surprise, dismay and outrage that the newly appointed Minister for Energy Conservation, the honourable Member for West Hertfordshire, should permit a member of his own party to once again block the Energy Conservation Bill on Friday 21st October despite the fact that the Bill is...