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TWO LETTERS RESPONDING TO PARMJIT RE HIS HOUSING BILL VOTE |
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1. So why did local MPs, Parmjit Dhanda and Diana Organ not support energy efficiency in the recent Housing Bill (i)? Your report, "MPs face energy row" (2/12/04) notes the Green Party criticisms, but Parmjit Dhanda deflects these by repeating Government rhetoric that they have increased their targets for cutting carbon emissions over the next 6 years.
Targets are great, but are not serious enough or backed by action (ii). We need a 90 per cent cut in UK emissions by 2050 or sooner, when in fact emissions have increased since Labour came to power, and if their road building and proposed doubling of air transport continue it is difficult to see how they can possibly meet their 'objectives'.
Mr Dhanda says nothing of improving energy efficiency of housing stock. Greenpeace have predicted 30000 deaths amongst the eldest and most impoverished citizens of this country over the coming year through cold, damp housing. Help the Aged state (iii) that: 'Last winter 21,500 people over 65 died in England and Wales as a direct result of the cold.' and that: 'The UK has a higher number of avoidable winter deaths than other, similar European countries. One of the main causes is cold, damp homes and, as winter sets in, many older people are worried about heating costs.'
Members of the Government need to support all measures which go towards putting right this disgraceful situation.
Bryan Meloy
Gloucester Green Party
0845 456 2602
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Notes:
(i) Along with 121 other Labour MPs they failed to support Amendment 190 on energy efficiency in social housing and Amendment 191 on improving home energy efficiency by 20% by 2010, after Tony Blair told Labour MPs to drop their support for these amendments. The Guardian, 10th November 2004 published an advertisement placed by Greenpeace and Active Citizens Transform highlighting the gulf between Mr Blair's rhetoric on global warming and his record of inaction. The advert states: 'No wonder people don't trust politicians!' before listing the MPs who obeyed the Prime Minister's instruction to oppose the measures. The failure on domestic energy efficiency comes less than a fortnight after the government capitulated to CBI lobbying on the European emissions trading scheme. Industry will now be allowed to emit as much in future years as it has in the past, meaning that the much vaunted trading scheme will deliver no real benefit to the climate.
(ii) The UK Government's methods of tackling the issue of climate change have been deemed inadequate and ineffectual by a group of cross party MPs. In August the Environmental Audit Committee, which earlier criticised the Government's approach to environmental crime, reveals in a report that it believes carbon dioxide cuts of 20% (on 1990 levels) by 2010 are unattainable at the current rate. The report recommends that a more imaginative strategy is implemented for combating transport emissions and domestic energy efficiency, with more backing for alternative fuels. Numerous other groups agree that not enough is being done. Spokesperson for Transport 2000 Steve Hounsham, for example, said: "The UK leads the world in rhetoric on climate change but while the Government remains in denial about the growing contribution of road traffic and flying to climate change, this is just hot air. Road traffic and aviation are the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gases but the Government is doing little more than biting its finger nails on these issues for fear of upsetting motorists and air travellers."
(iii) Information on winter deaths available on the Help the Aged website at:
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/CampaignsNews/Poverty/Winter+deaths/ default.htm
2. Parmjit Dhanda dismissed Green Party concerns about Labour saying one thing on energy efficiency and doing another (2/12/04), but Greens have a case to be answered.
Labour have thwarted the binding energy efficiency targets set in the Sustainable Energy Act of 2003. They watered down the Home Energy Conservation Act that the Green Party produced and are now ignoring the Air Traffic Emissions Reduction Bill already passed by the House of Lords. There are many other examples of where Labour are failing us on climate change. Just last week we hear they plan to encourage more car use by allowing rail fares to increase by an average of more than 4 per cent, yet freezing petrol duty.
The need to curb carbon emissions is well understood. We need action before it is too late.
Jessica Hodge
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