Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill Committee stage

Introduction

I move, that it be an instruction to the Committee of the whole House on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill that it consider the bill in the following manner: clauses 1 to 3 together, clause 4 and new clause 4A set out on Supplementary Order Paper 20 together, clauses 5 to 16 together, new clauses 16A to 16P set out on Supplementary Order Paper 20 together, clauses 17 to 20 together, new clauses 21 to 23 set out on Supplementary Order Paper 20 together, and the new schedule set out on Supplementary Order Paper 20. A bill of this length and complexity would normally be considered in parts. There are no parts in this bill largely as a result of the way it came together not a very long bill when first reported back, but made considerably longer by the Supplementary Order Paper and it was not easy to do that Supplementary Order Paper in such a way as to construct parts. However, if we consider all clauses together in a single debate it becomes extremely unfocused and points arise all over the place. On the other hand, if we consider it clause by clause, it would be very slow going through and many of the clauses do not really need a lot of debate.

So I have tried to strike a balance here between saving the House's time and focusing debate more tightly. That is all I need to say about it. I am about to give a copy of this to the chief Opposition whip so that the Opposition can consider any response it may wish to make.

Clauses 1-3

It is a great pleasure to be able to bring the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill through one further stage of its progress. The House is aware by now as a result of the procedural debate that there is a Supplementary Order Paper 20, the purpose of which is to establish the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority as a separate Crown entity. This proposal was in the Bill as introduced. It was abandoned during the select committee process because of long debates in the select committee with officials and others about the role of a Crown entity, about the governance of a Crown entity, and about the relationship between a Crown entity and the Minister.

Two months ago I began negotiations with the new Government and with officials. We succeeded during that time in solving the question of what is an appropriate governance and structure for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, a matter that an 18