Climate Change Bill gets Royal Assent
21st June 2006
Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, is celebrating today as the Climate Change & Sustainable Energy Bill receives Royal Assent.
The Bill which achieved House of Lords approval yesterday incorporated all the key clauses from Dr Whitehead's own Private Members Bill, 'Management of Energy in Buildings' including;
- the better compliance of building regulations in energy efficiency
- the removal of planning permission for micro-generation in homes
- and new regulations to ensure a minimum energy standard in new homes including micro-generation
Dr Whitehead said:
"Anyone who has been following the progress of both my own and this Private Members Bill will know that they have not seen a smooth passage through parliament, falling prey to some juvenile opposition tactics, which is why I am so pleased that this Bill will now finally receive Royal Assent.
"This Bill will alleviate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the increased use of sustainable energy sources, which will in turn counter the increasing costs of energy. One example, incorporated from my Bill, is the use of microgenerators which present a real and viable change that we can all make within our own homes. This Bill which will today become an Act is an important signal of the commitment to halting climate change and reducing carbon emissions."
Bryan Gray, Vice-President of the Micropower Council said:
"We are delighted that the Bill will become law and play its part in helping deliver low cost, easily available micropower for all. This, together with the other initiatives announced in the Government's microgeneration strategy and the additional £50m in the Budget, will be a significant boost to the confidence needed to bring about vital investment in the industry.
"Together these measures should help to move micropower into the mainstream by bringing down prices and making life much easier for consumers to play their part in tackling climate change. We thank all MPs and Peers involved in the Bill's passage, especially the Bill's promoter Mark Lazarowicz MP, his colleague Dr Alan Whitehead MP, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks MP, Lord Whitty and opposition spokesman Gregory Barker MP for their considerable work in passing this important new Act of Parliament".
More information
- Text of both Bills can be found at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/pabills.htm
- Both Bills were supported by a wide range of non-governmental organisations, including Friends of the Earth and the Sustainable Energy Partnership.
- History of the Bill:
15th May: Success! The Bill is approved by the Commons
16th March: Tory backbenchers try to wreck the Bill