Backbenchers focus on climate change

Monday, 20 June 2005 12:00 AM

Two Labour backbenchers are set to introduce hard-hitting bills in the House of Commons designed to tackle climate change.

Mark Lazarowicz and Alan Whitehead came fourth and ninth respectively in the Private Members Bill ballot.

They hope that with the current focus on the environment as a result of the upcoming G8 summit they will be able to garner enough support to put the bills into law.

And both bills have a distinctly left wing element in them, designed to tackle fuel poverty and reduce bills.

Edinburgh MP Mr Lazarowicz will be putting forward the Climate Change & Sustainable Energy Bill, which would require the Government to report to Parliament on yearly basis on the level of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK - and steps taken to reduce them.

It would also require the Government to produce an economic strategy to assist with energy efficiency and microgeneration. Heating fuel suppliers would also be put under an obligation to support renewable energy.

Mr Lazarowicz said: "Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. This bill is designed to help ensure that we in the UK meet our climate change commitments. The bill also includes a number of specific proposals to alleviate fuel poverty and climate change by making it easier and cheaper for individual households to generate their own energy."

He added: "Climate change is one of the Government's top two priorities for the G8 and EU presidency. The Government know the importance of this issue and I know many MPs do so too. I am confident that the bill will get the broad support it needs to be successful."

His bill is likely to get parliamentary time in November.

And Mr Whitehead will introduce the Management of Energy in Buildings Bill, which would require new buildings to contain renewable and sustainable energy equipment.

The Southampton Test MP said: "The aim of the bill is quite simply to enable people to go about their daily lives in their homes just as they do now but using energy much more efficiently and cleanly.

"By making it a necessary requirement for builders to install these devices in new houses and making it easier for installation in existing property, we will see a big but achievable step-change, without adding extra cost to energy supply in this country."

Being further down the ballot, time for Mr Whitehead's bill is not assured. But the two MPs have vowed to work together on both bills and hope both will get a hearing.

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