Energy Efficiency Week, 22-28 September 2003

EDM number 1681 in 2002-03, proposed by Mark Lazarowicz on 15/09/2003.

That this House congratulates the Energy Saving Trust on launching the seventh Energy Efficiency Week; notes that this follows an exhaustingly hot summer which may be typical of man-made climate change; further notes that more extreme and damaging weather events can be expected as well as hotter summers; believes, as the Energy White Paper stated, that energy efficiency is one of the key tools in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and should be at the heart of the Government's energy policy; welcomes the White Paper target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050 and the recent consultation paper on Economic Instruments to Improve Household Energy Efficiency; calls on the Government to introduce new policies to enable the targets to be met and in particular to correct the VAT anomaly which has energy saving taxed more heavily than energy use by cutting to 5 per cent. the rate of VAT on condensing boilers, energy saving light bulbs and other energy efficient appliances, puting an inefficiency charge on the least efficient products and enabling a reduction in council tax or stamp duty rates for energy efficient homes; and further notes that an increase in uptake of energy efficiency measures would help combat climate change, improve the UK's energy security and reduce bills for consumers.

This motion has been signed by a total of 102 MPs.