Clause 9 - Promotion of community energy
Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill
5:00 pm
Malcolm Wicks (Minister for energy, Department of Trade and Industry; Croydon North, Labour)
The amendment would put a duty on the Secretary of State to lay a report before Parliament on steps taken to promote community energy. I have no problem with the idea behind the amendment, but I suggest that such a report should be included in an annual report on implementation of the energy White Paper. Having only one report on our energy policy achievements is a much more coherent approach and probably a more efficient use of energy than having several reports, perhaps produced at different times. On that basis, I am happy to lay before the Committee a new clause along those lines in our next sitting. I hope that that is acceptable to the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle, and I therefore agree to consider amendment No. 33.