Oral Answers to Questions

Heidi Alexander Excerpts

Thursday 12th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

6. What steps he is taking to help households improve their energy efficiency.

[Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab)]

7. What steps he is taking to help households improve their energy efficiency.

[Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)]

13. What steps he is taking to help households improve their energy efficiency.

--- Later in debate ---

[Gregory Barker]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. Energy efficiency is a no-brainer. That is why we have given unprecedented importance and attention to it and for the first time have created within the Department an office of energy efficiency deployment. The green deal will involve a far greater range of interventions in people’s homes, unlike previous programmes, which were very limited, so I think the green deal will achieve the aims he seeks.

[Heidi Alexander]

May I bring to the Minister’s attention the excellent work done by Lewisham council in its insulation partnership, which has seen almost 3,000 homes receive cavity wall and loft insulation in the last six months? Given the difficulties that the Government have experienced in getting the energy companies to meet their household energy efficiency obligations, does he agree that local authorities have a vital role to play in ensuring that as many people as possible can benefit from lower fuel bills?

[Gregory Barker]

Absolutely. The hon. Lady makes a sound point, and that is exactly why I shall shortly be issuing new guidance to local authorities, under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995, making it clear that I expect every single local authority to draw up a strategy to roll out the green deal to all parts of their areas. Local authorities and communities are key to the success of the green deal.