Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall am 9:30 am ar 3 Mawrth 2010.
If so, I am glad to hear it. The latest information that I have is that it is not available, but perhaps it will be, and I would welcome that. It is a simple scheme and it works. Devolution allows the Scottish Administration to do things differently, but I believe that if the scheme works we should use it. That is all I wish to say about the matter.
People also say that we should have smart meters, but smart meters are of value only if they tell people what is going on. They have to be able to record in real time, so that people can make active decisions. We should be clear when talking about smart meters that we need the whole package, not just half of it.
Home energy reports are of rather limited value-almost a gesture. They could be much more rigorously enforced. Indeed, if we are raising standards, the standard of home energy reports should rise with them. People should know their real value and, if they are below value, what should be done. That should be included in the negotiations on buying and selling houses-people should know what they have to do to bring the reports up to standard.
We are in the middle of the deepest recession in living memory. We face the huge challenges of hard-to-treat homes, fuel poverty and the need to develop and introduce greener forms of energy. I can think of nothing that would do more to stimulate employment, investment, economic growth and recovery than a major investment programme in that area. My concern is that the Government have failed to come forward with a comprehensive way to ensure that we deliver the materials and the installation capacity, and the carbon reductions and poverty reductions that should go with them.
I have no doubt that the Minister will refer to yesterday's announcement. He will not be surprised to hear that, like so many announcements, it is a statement of good intent that sounds attractive, but when will the detail be available and when will anyone be able to use it? If people want to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy in their home, they will want not only the best advice, but the right financial package to cover the cost of installing it and to give them savings at the same time.
I welcome the principle behind yesterday's announcement by the Secretary of State, but I shall be much more convinced when I see the colour of his money and we hear details of how people can get hold of the money. I suspect that it will not be this side of the general election.
We are debating an important subject with many dimensions to it, and I am sure that other Members will wish to mention other aspects. I hope the Minister can answer some of the key points that I have raised.