Energy Bill [HL]

Is someone shouting? In Clause 63(4) there is a whole series of paragraphs where the words ““carbon emissions reduction obligation”” are replaced by ““home-heating cost reduction obligation””. These are two different things, of course, but I firmly believe that both the companies and, in particular, their customers will be much more responsive to a mention of home-heating cost reduction rather than carbon emissions reductions. Here in the rarefied atmosphere of Westminster we are very used to talking about carbon footprints and carbon reductions, but ordinary householders are looking at how to reduce their bills. I very much approve of this change in the wording. It moves away from what I always thought was a real problem with the CERT, which was that it started and ended by being a carbon reduction. Of course, that is what we want but it does not really appeal to ordinary people. Therefore, I welcome this change in the wording. Clause 63 agreed. Clause 64 agreed. Amendment 30 Moved by