Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration Bill [HL]

From these Benches we welcomed the opportunity at Second Reading to discuss the issues surrounding the noble Lord’s Bill. I reiterate my thanks to the noble Lord for bringing this important topic to us in this way. I suspect that on all sides of the House we recognise that energy efficiency and microgeneration represent important elements in any strategy to deal with providing a balanced environment, in the battle against climate change and in creating a greener world. By focusing on the planning issues contained in Clause 4, the noble Lord challenges the Government to respond to the Bill’s provision for review by the Secretary of State of the planning issues presented by microgeneration. Noble Lords will recognise that other elements of the broader debate embodied in the deleted clauses will not have gone away. We hope that the Minister can assure us that the Government acknowledge them and will give serious consideration to the Bill in its amended form.