Early day motion 673

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDINGS (ENERGY PERFORMANCE) BILL

• Session: 2007-08
• Date tabled: 09.01.2008
• Primary sponsor: Snelgrove, Anne
• Sponsors:
  • Gummer, John
  • Howarth, David
  • Meacher, Michael
  • Whitehead, Alan
  • Yeo, Tim

That this House notes that the public sector is responsible for five per cent. of total UK carbon emissions and is a significant player in the commercial property market; further notes that the Central Government Estate alone occupies some 10 per cent. of UK offices; therefore welcomes the Government's targets for carbon and energy efficiency performance on the estate as set out in the 2004 Energy Efficiency Action Plan and restated in the 2007 Energy White Paper; further welcomes in particular the commitment to procure only buildings in the top quartile of energy performance and the recognition in the Action Plan that `Strong Government leadership on the energy standards of the buildings it procures... can start to transform the wider commercial property market'; further welcomes the bringing forward of the Public Sector Buildings (Energy Performance) Bill, via the Private Members' Ballot by the hon. Member for Swindon South with cross-party support, which would give legal force to the Government's commitment to procure only buildings in the top quartile of energy performance and thereby help drive down energy use and carbon emissions across the whole of the UK office market; and hopes that the Bill will become law during the 2007-08 Session.