NORTH EAST COUNCILS MISSING ENERGY TARGETS (Fiona Hall MEP)

Fiona Hall MEP <info@fionahall.org.uk>

NORTH EAST COUNCILS MISSING ENERGY TARGETS

November 2, 2005 12:00 AM

Local councils across the North East are struggling to bring about energy efficiency improvements in line with government targets, says North East Euro-MP, Fiona Hall.

Councils have to ensure that household energy efficiency levels are raised by 2% a year if they are to meet the 2010 deadline for improvement. But local councils are lagging behind, and according to new government figures the majority of local authorities across the North East are set to miss the target.

Latest figures published this month by the Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) show that only 10 out of 23 councils in the North East are currently on course.

Results in the region are bad news both for local householders and for the environment, North East Euro-MP Fiona Hall has warned.

But Ms. Hall, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Energy in the European Parliament, says that councils should be given greater financial or legal incentives to take action, which would cut fuel bills for individuals and help in the fight against global warming.

She said:

"The fact that so many local authorities are missing their targets underlines the need for binding energy efficiency targets for the public sector. The Government needs to take the lead at a European level while it holds the UK Presidency and make sure that binding public targets are included in the forthcoming EU directive on energy efficiency.

"The Government should also speed up the pace of progress by offering significant financial rewards to those that meet them ahead of schedule. Increasing energy efficiency in domestic homes is one of the most effective ways of tackling climate change and reducing energy demand."

The Liberal Democrat MEP says the government's decision to ditch plans to force house builders to improve energy efficiency, using measures such as better roof insulation, is another example of lack of commitment to tackle

global warming.

Earlier this month the housing minister, Yvette Cooper, decided to cancel stricter energy requirements on refurbished homes and delayed standards for new homes until next year.

Ms Hall said: "Tony Blair talks about Britain leading the fight against climate change, yet his government is rejecting essential measures urgently needed to reduce global warming gases. While part of the government is calling for action, others parts are weakening the commitment. This is not a good example of joined up thinking."