Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 February 2011
23 Feb 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Energy Bill
The provisions include a responsibility on the tenant to request improvements—not on the landlord to offer them. Also, the powers on energy efficiency in the private sector are limited by clause 50, which provides that they may be exercised only if they
“will not decrease the number of properties available for rent.”
If that is what ministers want, surely it would be better for them to explain that in the context of Scottish legislation as it went through the Scottish Parliament.
When he gave evidence to the committee, Alex Neil defended the proposed repeal of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995, which requires local authorities to set targets in promoting energy efficiency. He said that not enough councils meet their HECA targets. However, a number of Scottish local authorities have used the targets effectively to make a difference to people who are living in fuel poverty. Scottish Environment LINK told the committee on 26 January:
“We strongly believe that that act should not be repealed; rather, it should be amended or replaced with a duty on local authorities to have targets to achieve energy efficiency in the private housing sector in their areas and to report on the achievement of those targets.”—[Official Report, Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, 26 January 2011; c 4719.]
Other organisations reiterated the point this week. WWF Scotland, for example, pointed out that the proposals in the Scottish Government’s long-delayed energy efficiency action plan
“only extend to strengthening guidance for Local Housing Strategies and there is no requirement or duty to promote energy efficiency.”
At the very time when we should be looking for ways to build on the successes of earlier efforts to improve energy efficiency, ministers in both Governments focus instead only on the deficiencies in HECA in order to remove and not replace an existing statutory duty.
The Scottish ministers should put pressure on the UK Government on proposals that are not yet fully formed, as the minister said. We also want the green deal and the energy company obligation to be amended to deliver for Scotland. If they threaten to take us in the wrong direction altogether, they should be rejected.
17:40
“will not decrease the number of properties available for rent.”
If that is what ministers want, surely it would be better for them to explain that in the context of Scottish legislation as it went through the Scottish Parliament.
When he gave evidence to the committee, Alex Neil defended the proposed repeal of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995, which requires local authorities to set targets in promoting energy efficiency. He said that not enough councils meet their HECA targets. However, a number of Scottish local authorities have used the targets effectively to make a difference to people who are living in fuel poverty. Scottish Environment LINK told the committee on 26 January:
“We strongly believe that that act should not be repealed; rather, it should be amended or replaced with a duty on local authorities to have targets to achieve energy efficiency in the private housing sector in their areas and to report on the achievement of those targets.”—[Official Report, Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, 26 January 2011; c 4719.]
Other organisations reiterated the point this week. WWF Scotland, for example, pointed out that the proposals in the Scottish Government’s long-delayed energy efficiency action plan
“only extend to strengthening guidance for Local Housing Strategies and there is no requirement or duty to promote energy efficiency.”
At the very time when we should be looking for ways to build on the successes of earlier efforts to improve energy efficiency, ministers in both Governments focus instead only on the deficiencies in HECA in order to remove and not replace an existing statutory duty.
The Scottish ministers should put pressure on the UK Government on proposals that are not yet fully formed, as the minister said. We also want the green deal and the energy company obligation to be amended to deliver for Scotland. If they threaten to take us in the wrong direction altogether, they should be rejected.
17:40
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-7945, in the name of Alex Neil, on the Energy Bill, which is proposed United Kingdom legislation.17:30
The Minister for Housing and Communities (Alex Neil)
SNP
This is a rather versatile day of business, Presiding Officer.I welcome today’s opportunity to highlight the benefits of the UK Energy Bill, in particular th...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Given the close involvement that the minister is suggesting the Scottish Government should have with the green deal and its implementation, can he set my min...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I must hurry you, Mr Harvie—we have little time.
Patrick Harvie
Green
What opportunity will this Parliament have to ensure that the new arrangements are more suitable for allowing additional action in Scotland than the previous...
Alex Neil
SNP
Mr Harvie should listen to what I have to say, as I am sure that I will be able to reassure him on all points.The stakeholder input and the views of the Econ...
Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister take an intervention?
Alex Neil
SNP
I am sorry, but I do not have time.We note the UK Government’s proposals to introduce new powers to regulate private landlords, to ensure that private tenant...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You must close now.
Alex Neil
SNP
I will cover the repeal of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 in my closing speech.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I am sorry to hurry members, but there is no time available.
Alex Neil
SNP
I move,That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions of the Energy Bill introduced in the House of Lords on 8 December 2010 relating to the creatio...
Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab)
Lab
The policy objectives of increasing energy efficiency and reducing fuel poverty are widely shared. The issues that we consider today are whether the bill tha...
Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con)
Con
I heard the evidence that was provided to the committee. We were also told about a specific provision for tenants, which is distinctive. Will the member comm...
Lewis Macdonald
Lab
The provisions include a responsibility on the tenant to request improvements—not on the landlord to offer them. Also, the powers on energy efficiency in the...
Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con)
Con
I intend to focus my remarks on the issues on which the committee took evidence and on which there appeared to be some dispute, at least initially.The first ...
Lewis Macdonald
Lab
Does Gavin Brown accept that there is also a broad consensus on the need to replace HECA, rather than simply to repeal it, as is proposed?
Gavin Brown
Con
I accept that there is a broad consensus that we need to ensure that energy efficiency continues to be a focus for local authorities. Norman Kerr, who took a...
Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD)
LD
I am a little puzzled. I certainly appreciate and share the desire to keep fuel poverty at the front of, and central to, political debate in Scotland. Likewi...
Lewis Macdonald
Lab
Will the member give way?
Liam McArthur
LD
I will let in Lewis Macdonald in a second.WWF makes sensible suggestions in its briefing regarding the development of EPCs and the energy company obligation,...
Lewis Macdonald
Lab
Does Mr McArthur have a view on why the bill has come forward at this stage, when it is apparent from everything that we have heard that many of the provisio...
Liam McArthur
LD
A framework has clearly been set, and the minister has addressed the issue of how Scottish interests will be represented through the continuing stages of the...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You should close, Mr McArthur.
Liam McArthur
LD
On that basis, I will support the motion this afternoon.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I am afraid that contributions must now be limited to three minutes.17:48
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
I have pleasure in supporting the Government’s position this afternoon. Having heard the arguments in the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, I am glad th...
Lewis Macdonald
Lab
Will the member give way?
Rob Gibson
SNP
I am sorry—I do not have time.As far as HECA is concerned, the Government believes that we will increase the degree of effort that we make on energy efficien...
Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab)
Lab
I have read the Official Reports of the evidence sessions and the submissions that were made to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, and I agree comple...