Parliamentary search - Energy Bill [HL]

Type

Parliamentary proceeding

Reference

724 c259-312GC

Session

2010-12

Department

Committee of the Whole House (HL)

Legislative stage

Committee stage

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords Grand Committee

Energy Bill (HL). Explanatory notes also published (HL Bill 33-EN).
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Bills
House of Commons

Proceeding contributions

Baroness Smith of Basildon | 724 c305GC (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the noble Lord for his expression of support and agreement with the intention of my...

Lord Davies of Oldham | 724 c261-2GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, is right to remind us that exempting certain goods from the n...

Show all contributions (111)

Lord Whitty | 724 c263-5GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, we are now moving on to Chapter 5 of the Bill and the issue of smart meters. We have touch...

Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan | 724 c269GC (Link to this contribution) We will see.

Lord Grantchester | 724 c286GC (Link to this contribution) The noble Baroness is entirely correct. I thank her for bringing further light to the subject. I beg...

Baroness Noakes | 724 c285GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I have Amendments 33B and 33C in this group, and my noble friend Lord Jenkin has Amendment...

Earl Cathcart | 724 c282GC (Link to this contribution) The noble Lord, Lord O’Neill, said that there were inconsistencies in my argument. What I was doing ...

Baroness Northover | 724 c312GC (Link to this contribution) It is amazing what enlightenments can come when one listens to one’s noble friends. Funnily enough, ...

Baroness Northover | 724 c311GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I must say that I am incredibly impressed at the thoroughness with which my noble friend L...

Lord Skelmersdale | 724 c259GC (Link to this contribution) We continue the Grand Committee on the Energy Bill. If there is a Division in the Chamber while we a...

Baroness Smith of Basildon | 724 c259GC (Link to this contribution) 30ZA: Clause 66, page 48, line 14, at end insert— ““( ) to assess whether the person’s obligations u...

Baroness Smith of Basildon | 724 c260GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, on the basis that the issues are covered, I would be happy to withdraw. Amendment 30ZA wi...

Baroness Smith of Basildon | 724 c259GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, this is a fairly brief and self-explanatory amendment, which gives us the opportunity to h...

Lord Marland | 724 c259-60GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I welcome everyone back to the Committee and thank all noble Lords for their great contrib...

Baroness Maddock | 724 c260GC (Link to this contribution) 32: After Clause 67, insert the following new Clause— ““Promotion of reduction of home heating costs...

Lord Jenkin of Roding | 724 c261GC (Link to this contribution) I was a member of the Treasury team when VAT was first introduced in 1972. It was one of the princip...

Baroness Maddock | 724 c260-1GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, this is a new clause concerning proposed reductions in VAT rates and adds to the new claus...

Lord Whitty | 724 c263GC (Link to this contribution) 32B: Clause 69, page 50, line 26, at end insert— ““( ) In subsection (2), after paragraph (a), inser...

Baroness Maddock | 724 c262-3GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I apologise to the Committee for jumping the gun and moving my amendment before it had act...

Baroness Northover | 724 c262GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, the purpose of Amendment 32 is a perfectly understandable aim. However, we have been advis...

Lord Jenkin of Roding | 724 c265-6GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, like the noble Lord, Lord Whitty, with many of whose remarks I entirely agree, I, too, hav...

Lord Marland | 724 c272-3GC (Link to this contribution) I thought that I had explained this but, for clarification, Ofgem is dealing with this short-term in...

Lord Whitty | 724 c272GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, we get energy Acts rather frequently and one would hope that this would not provoke an eve...

Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan | 724 c272GC (Link to this contribution) Is my noble friend not concerned that, from what the Minister has said, the ongoing discussions will...

Lord Whitty | 724 c271-2GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have taken part in this debate. The Minister said tha...

Lord Marland | 724 c271GC (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Oxburgh, for his commentary on this issue, which partly answer...

Lord Grantchester | 724 c271GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I asked the Minister whether he had anything in mind regarding consumer protection in the ...

Bishop of Chester | 724 c271GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Oxburgh, provokes me to ask a further question, either of him or of t...

Lord Whitty | 724 c273GC (Link to this contribution) It deals with interoperability, but it does not deal with the cost to the consumers of not having in...

Lord Marland | 724 c273GC (Link to this contribution) It does, according to my understanding.

Lord Whitty | 724 c273GC (Link to this contribution) I am glad to hear that, but my recollection of the 2008 Act is that it does not deal specifically wi...

Bishop of Chester | 724 c269GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, when the Minister does indeed bring the tablets down the mountain at the end of this short...

Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan | 724 c267-9GC (Link to this contribution) I welcome this amendment. It is important that we have a code that is as robust as possible, not lea...

Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan | 724 c269GC (Link to this contribution) It is usually the Whip who gets the dirty job of saying, especially to his noble friends, that they ...

Lord Teverson | 724 c269GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, perhaps I may make a short comment on the contribution of the noble Lord, Lord O’Neill. Of...

Lord Grantchester | 724 c266-7GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, we agree in large measure with the amendments tabled by my noble friend Lord Whitty. We th...

Lord Marland | 724 c269GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I am grateful to my colleague the Energy Minister, Charles Hendry, for coming down with hi...

Lord Oxburgh | 724 c270GC (Link to this contribution) On cost, does the Minister agree that the purpose of rolling out smart meters is to save money and t...

Lord Marland | 724 c269-70GC (Link to this contribution) We will wait and see. I am disappointed to hear that from a man who was on the government Benches fo...

Baroness Noakes | 724 c286-7GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, we are still dealing with Clause 70, which deals with energy performance certificates. My ...

Baroness Noakes | 724 c286GC (Link to this contribution) 33B: Clause 70, page 51, line 39, after ““section”” insert ““other than subsection (2)(e)””

Lord Grantchester | 724 c283GC (Link to this contribution) 33ZA: Clause 70, page 51, line 15, at end insert— ““( ) requiring the disclosure of sufficient infor...

Lord Grantchester | 724 c283-5GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, the Bill contains welcome changes to the energy performance certificates, but reform may n...

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall | 724 c283GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, this may be a convenient moment for the Committee to take its customary short break. I sug...

Lord Grantchester | 724 c286GC (Link to this contribution) I thank the noble Baroness for her understanding and for clarifying the situation regarding our two ...

Baroness Northover | 724 c286GC (Link to this contribution) As I mentioned, under existing regulations the duty of care placed on people in terms of producing t...

Baroness Northover | 724 c285-6GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I should like to start by countering comments made by the noble Lord, Lord O’Neill, during...

Lord Teverson | 724 c282-3GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for his reply. I suppose that I ought to feel very co...

Lord Marland | 724 c282GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Davies, for summing up so well—he has done most of m...

Lord Teverson | 724 c273-4GC (Link to this contribution) 33: After Clause 69, insert the following new Clause— ““Energy tariffs Energy tariffs (1) After cons...

Lord Teverson | 724 c274-5GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, there are many strange things about electricity bills. This amendment caused me to look at...

Earl Cathcart | 724 c275-7GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I certainly support the thrust of the amendment, as I devoted almost my entire Second Read...

Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan | 724 c277-9GC (Link to this contribution) I find this a confusing debate. First, we have an elegant contribution from the noble Lord, Lord Tev...

Baroness Maddock | 724 c279GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I support my noble friend in raising an important issue, which has led to rather a long de...

Lord Oxburgh | 724 c279-80GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, the step tariff to which the noble Lord, Lord Teverson, has drawn attention clearly has it...

Lord Whitty | 724 c280-1GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Teverson, is to be congratulated: he has really put his finger on wha...

Lord Davies of Oldham | 724 c281-2GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I am going to offer a word of solace to the Minister: I recommend that he suggests that th...

Lord Jenkin of Roding | 724 c291GC (Link to this contribution) 34A: Clause 77, page 57, line 33, at end insert— ““36D Strengthening the Authority’s powers with reg...

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall | 724 c290-1GC (Link to this contribution) I think that we will regard that as not moved. Amendment 34ZB not moved. Clause 75 agreed. Clause...

Lord Davies of Oldham | 724 c290GC (Link to this contribution) Probably not, my Lords.

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall | 724 c290GC (Link to this contribution) Does the noble Lord wish to move his amendment?

Lord Davies of Oldham | 724 c290GC (Link to this contribution) I think that the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, if he is not careful, is going to have to rise again and m...

Lord Grantchester | 724 c290GC (Link to this contribution) I thank the Minister; I quite well anticipated his reply and the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Jen...

Lord Davies of Oldham | 724 c290GC (Link to this contribution) 34ZB: Clause 75, page 55, line 29, at end insert— ““( ) the impact of supply on consumer prices””

Lord Grantchester | 724 c290GC (Link to this contribution) I thought that I had explained in my opening remarks that we could well understand that they could b...

Lord Marland | 724 c290GC (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the noble Lord for his amendment, but the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, puts it rather s...

Lord Grantchester | 724 c289GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, the Bill is concerned with energy efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions. In that re...

Lord Jenkin of Roding | 724 c289-90GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I would just like to ask the noble Lord why he thinks that these are not already included ...

Baroness Northover | 724 c288-9GC (Link to this contribution) The noble Lord might be reassured if I could conclude. We are sympathetic to what the noble Lord, Lo...

Lord Grantchester | 724 c289GC (Link to this contribution) 34ZA: Clause 75, page 55, line 22, after ““electricity”” insert ““, including renewables and low-car...

Lord Whitty | 724 c289GC (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her recognition of the issue. Given her assurance, I beg lea...

Lord Whitty | 724 c287-8GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, this amendment was originally in a group, but it has been disentangled, as it may be more ...

Baroness Northover | 724 c288GC (Link to this contribution) I thank the noble Lord for his amendment. He makes a good point: it would not help consumers if info...

Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan | 724 c288GC (Link to this contribution) Could the Minister give us any evidence that this has taken place with any degree of consistency? We...

Lord Davies of Oldham | 724 c287GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, it will not surprise the Minister to hear that I agree entirely with the case made by the ...

Baroness Northover | 724 c287GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, the Bill does not intend to create any new criminal offences or impose financial penalties...

Baroness Noakes | 724 c287GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, it is a handsome offer definitely to come back on Report. How could I possibly refuse? I b...

Lord Whitty | 724 c287GC (Link to this contribution) 33D: Clause 72, page 53, line 5, at end insert— ““( ) The information to be provided about a tariff ...

Baroness Northover | 724 c309GC (Link to this contribution) I welcome what my noble friend Lord Teverson has said. I note several things in relation to what the...

Lord Teverson | 724 c309GC (Link to this contribution) I like this part of the Bill. Good questions have come from the noble Baroness, which we would not h...

Baroness Smith of Basildon | 724 c308-9GC (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the noble Baroness for giving a detailed explanation, although I am not really sure...

Baroness Northover | 724 c307-8GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, this chapter is designed to replace the current legislation on third-party access to upstr...

Lord Davies of Oldham | 724 c297-8GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, all that needs to be said about this amendment has been said by informed Members of the Co...

Lord Oxburgh | 724 c297GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I briefly add my support to this amendment. The noble Lord, Lord O’Neill, is right that ou...

Lord Hannay of Chiswick | 724 c296-7GC (Link to this contribution) I too would like to say a few words in support of the amendment, which is designed to strengthen the...

Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan | 724 c294-6GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I support this amendment and compliment the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, on covering pretty we...

Lord Jenkin of Roding | 724 c291-4GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, noble Lords will remember that at Second Reading I raised the whole question of gas storag...

Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan | 724 c299GC (Link to this contribution) Perhaps the Minister could answer two questions. First, could he give us the number of billion cubic...

Lord Marland | 724 c299GC (Link to this contribution) I thought that I answered the question on the storage available. I do not know precisely what amount...

Lord Moynihan | 724 c298GC (Link to this contribution) Spot on!

Lord Marland | 724 c298-9GC (Link to this contribution) The noble Lord has such talent in one body. So we have 20 days’ storage. The noble Lord, Lord Hannay...

Lord Marland | 724 c298GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Jenkin for raising this issue and, in particular, for this ca...

Baroness Smith of Basildon | 724 c302-3GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I put this forward as a probing amendment to clarify the issue of liability in the event o...

Lord Marland | 724 c300GC (Link to this contribution) The noble Lord makes a point. Of course Ofgem will be brought up to speed with what we are doing. I ...

Lord Hannay of Chiswick | 724 c300GC (Link to this contribution) Could I just follow up the Minister’s point about the work that Ofgem is doing? I thought I understo...

Baroness Smith of Basildon | 724 c301-2GC (Link to this contribution) 34AA: Before Clause 78, insert the following new Clause— ““Accidental petroleum releases: verificati...

Lord Jenkin of Roding | 724 c300-1GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, few movers of an amendment such as this could have had such powerful supporters as the nob...

Lord Moynihan | 724 c303-4GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I was not going to intervene on this, but I have just watched, at some length, the follow-...

Lord Marland | 724 c304-5GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, this is an excellent amendment and the Government are entirely in agreement with its broad...

Baroness Smith of Basildon | 724 c305-7GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, to be helpful to the Minister, I was able to give him advance notice of the kind of questi...

Baroness Noakes | 724 c303GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Basildon, raises some interesting points with her amendm...

Baroness Smith of Basildon | 724 c303GC (Link to this contribution) I am very grateful to the noble Baroness; her contribution was extremely helpful. Certainly, it was ...

Baroness Northover | 724 c312GC (Link to this contribution) This may be a convenient moment for the Committee to adjourn until Tuesday 8 February.

Baroness Smith of Basildon | 724 c309-10GC (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the noble Baroness, who has sought to address my concerns. I have had a note from t...

Lord Jenkin of Roding | 724 c310GC (Link to this contribution) 34B: Clause 90, page 70, line 43, at end insert— ““( ) In the application of section 157(2), insert ...

Lord Jenkin of Roding | 724 c310-1GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I am conscious that we are nearing the usual time for the Committee to adjourn so I will t...

Lord Davies of Oldham | 724 c311GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, like the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, I served on the Committee that produced the 2004 Act. It...

Lord Jenkin of Roding | 724 c312GC (Link to this contribution) My noble friend has made a persuasive case and I am grateful to her. This has caused anxiety, partic...

Lord Jenkin of Roding | 724 c311GC (Link to this contribution) I had intended to say just that, because I was checking the Bill and saw that, indeed, the earlier c...

Baroness Northover | 724 c311-2GC (Link to this contribution) The clauses on special administration in the Bill largely follow the tests and procedures for ordina...

Lord Jenkin of Roding | 724 c312GC (Link to this contribution) My Lords, I am grateful for my noble friend’s explanation, but I have to say that I do not think tha...

Subjects

Disclosure of information

Conservation

Housing

Licensing

Energy

Ofgem

Energy supply

Electricity

Infrastructure

Insolvency

Heating

Natural gas

Pollution control

Petrol

Meters

Prices

Standards

Security

VAT

Green deal scheme

Legislation

Energy Bill (HL) 2010-12

Link

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