The Energy Bill covers a wide range of policy areas relating to energy.  The Government’s stated aims for it include leveraging private investment in clean technologies, reforming the UK’s energy system and protecting consumers, and maintaining the safety, security and resilience of the UK’s energy system. 

I do support a number of the measures contained in the Bill and recognise the need for a Bill like this overall.  However, whilst I believe that the Bill is a necessary one, I do not believe that it is sufficient, given the scale of the challenges and opportunities that we face.  I believe that it falls short on a number of fronts. 

This is why my Opposition Colleagues and I supported several efforts to amend the Bill at its Third Reading.  For example, we supported: 

• New Clause 4, which would have prevented oil and gas installations from flaring and venting – which releases methane emissions – by 2025.
• New Clause 39, which would have extended the duty of Ofgem to regulate off-grid fuels and to ensure that a cap is applied for off-grid home fuels that is proportionate to the cap applied for on-grid homes. 
• New clause 57, which would have ensured that onshore wind development proposals in England and Wales are permitted to proceed on the same basis as other local infrastructure projects.  
• New clause 59, which would have required the Government to achieve the decarbonisation of the UK’s electricity supply by 2030.  
• New clause 61, which would have required the Government to publish a Warmer Homes and Businesses Action Plan setting out proposals to deliver on its own aspirations for improving home energy efficiency. 

Sadly, the Government voted down all of our amendments.  However, I can assure you that my Opposition Colleagues and I will continue to seek to improve the Energy Bill as it makes its way through Parliament, at its remaining stages.