House of Lords written statement – made at on 25 June 2009.
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
Minister of State, Department for Energy and Climate Change, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, House of Lords, Minister of State (Department of Energy and Climate Change), Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
I am writing to update you about the recent Energy Council in Luxembourg on
As expected, the council discussed and agreed the Commission's proposal for a revision of the council directive on oil stocking (council document 15910/08). The directive will align the EU to international energy agency regulations and increase the EU's resilience to disruptions in oil supply.
This was followed by a report from the presidency on progress on the three energy efficiency directives currently being negotiated by the council and Parliament. These are related specifically to labelling (council document 15906/08), tyres (council document 15920/08) and buildings (council document 15929/08).
Finally, the Commission and presidency presented information on a number of developments in EU external energy relations, including those with Russia, Ukraine, the energy community treaty, OPEC and the G8.
Over lunch, Ministers had the first opportunity to discuss the potential location of the Agency for the Co-operation of Energy Regulators, which will be established by the third package of legislation on the EU's internal energy market. Slovakia, Romania and Slovenia have all put themselves forwards as candidates. As all received roughly equal support from member states, further discussions will now take place.
The house of Lords is the upper chamber of the Houses of Parliament. It is filled with Lords (I.E. Lords, Dukes, Baron/esses, Earls, Marquis/esses, Viscounts, Count/esses, etc.) The Lords consider proposals from the EU or from the commons. They can then reject a bill, accept it, or make amendments. If a bill is rejected, the commons can send it back to the lords for re-discussion. The Lords cannot stop a bill for longer than one parliamentary session. If a bill is accepted, it is forwarded to the Queen, who will then sign it and make it law. If a bill is amended, the amended bill is sent back to the House of Commons for discussion.
The Lords are not elected; they are appointed. Lords can take a "whip", that is to say, they can choose a party to represent. Currently, most Peers are Conservative.