I am happy to follow the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) and to discover such broad support around the House for the Bill's objectives, even though, of course, points have been made that can be properly taken up in Committee. Throughout my youth, it was customary just before midnight...

I am happy to follow the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) and to discover such broad support around the House for the Bill's objectives, even though, of course, points have been made that can be properly taken up in Committee. Throughout my youth, it was customary just before midnight...

In the remainder of her speech will the Minister make clear to the House her and the Government's intentions? These matters, especially the issue she has just raised, can be addressed in Committee by amendment and debate, and a different Bill could emerge. Is it her intention to speak at...

In the remainder of her speech will the Minister make clear to the House her and the Government's intentions? These matters, especially the issue she has just raised, can be addressed in Committee by amendment and debate, and a different Bill could emerge. Is it her intention to speak at...

No, he could not.

No, he could not.

I understand my hon. Friend's point, but it is clear that previous fuel poverty targets and the best practicable means to achieve them have not been successful, so is it not important that when Governments set a target they at least put a reasonable amount of resources into achieving it?...

I understand my hon. Friend's point, but it is clear that previous fuel poverty targets and the best practicable means to achieve them have not been successful, so is it not important that when Governments set a target they at least put a reasonable amount of resources into achieving it?...

I assume that the answer to my previous question is therefore yes—that it is intended to be fully justiciable. I wish to correct something that the hon. Gentleman said. The duty would not only be to produce a strategy. The duty would be to achieve an objective, with no qualification,...

I assume that the answer to my previous question is therefore yes—that it is intended to be fully justiciable. I wish to correct something that the hon. Gentleman said. The duty would not only be to produce a strategy. The duty would be to achieve an objective, with no qualification,...

Perhaps you could buy indulgences.

Perhaps you could buy indulgences.

I am not a lawyer but I support the principles of the Bill. I desperately want to see fuel poverty eradicated. Are these not things that could be dealt with in Committee—changing the wording to make sure that it meets my hon. Friend's concerns?

I am not a lawyer but I support the principles of the Bill. I desperately want to see fuel poverty eradicated. Are these not things that could be dealt with in Committee—changing the wording to make sure that it meets my hon. Friend's concerns?

People are concerned about where the money will come from. I think that we should have a windfall tax on the huge profits made by the energy companies. Is that an approach that the hon. Gentleman would consider?

People are concerned about where the money will come from. I think that we should have a windfall tax on the huge profits made by the energy companies. Is that an approach that the hon. Gentleman would consider?

Will my hon. Friend give way?

Will my hon. Friend give way?

I too am grateful to my hon. Friend, and congratulate him on selecting this Bill. In my constituency, 5,700 families are living in fuel poverty. Does he agree that the investment in energy efficiency measures that his Bill requires would not only help to eradicate fuel poverty across the country...

I too am grateful to my hon. Friend, and congratulate him on selecting this Bill. In my constituency, 5,700 families are living in fuel poverty. Does he agree that the investment in energy efficiency measures that his Bill requires would not only help to eradicate fuel poverty across the country...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for what he has said. It underlines a point to which I shall return shortly. His constituency, like mine, is extremely rural, and although many people see fuel poverty as an urban issue, it is very much an issue in rural areas as...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for what he has said. It underlines a point to which I shall return shortly. His constituency, like mine, is extremely rural, and although many people see fuel poverty as an urban issue, it is very much an issue in rural areas as...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. I have religiously put in for the private Member's Bill ballot for the best part of 12 years, but I have never appeared anywhere on the list until this year, when I came second. That is perseverance...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. I have religiously put in for the private Member's Bill ballot for the best part of 12 years, but I have never appeared anywhere on the list until this year, when I came second. That is perseverance...

When is my perseverance going to be rewarded?

When is my perseverance going to be rewarded?

And no doubt other Members' perseverance will be rewarded in due course. Having appeared as No. 2 on the list, I cast around for an appropriate Bill to introduce. There were a number of very worthy topics—some have been debated on previous Fridays—that I carefully considered. I believe, however, that...

And no doubt other Members' perseverance will be rewarded in due course. Having appeared as No. 2 on the list, I cast around for an appropriate Bill to introduce. There were a number of very worthy topics—some have been debated on previous Fridays—that I carefully considered. I believe, however, that...

My constituents are very grateful to my hon. Friend, because the Bill stands to assist thousands of people in Montgomeryshire who are not well off and who need such assistance desperately. Let me thank him personally for what he is doing for Montgomeryshire folk and others.

My constituents are very grateful to my hon. Friend, because the Bill stands to assist thousands of people in Montgomeryshire who are not well off and who need such assistance desperately. Let me thank him personally for what he is doing for Montgomeryshire folk and others.

I am very tempted to pursue the hon. Gentleman's logic, but I have to say that I have had extremely helpful conversations with some of the energy companies over the past week, and I feel that I should put on record their support for elements of my Bill. I am...

I am very tempted to pursue the hon. Gentleman's logic, but I have to say that I have had extremely helpful conversations with some of the energy companies over the past week, and I feel that I should put on record their support for elements of my Bill. I am...

Of course fuel poverty affects rural areas, but it affects rural and urban areas alike. No Member has missed out on it; it affects every constituency in the United Kingdom. Does the hon. Gentleman agree, however, that the villains of the piece are the energy companies, with their immoral profits...

Of course fuel poverty affects rural areas, but it affects rural and urban areas alike. No Member has missed out on it; it affects every constituency in the United Kingdom. Does the hon. Gentleman agree, however, that the villains of the piece are the energy companies, with their immoral profits...

That was a helpful intervention. If there is one place that those in ignorance might consider less likely to be affected, it is Solihull, which is an affluent borough in most respects. Yet there are people who, although apparently invisible to the authorities, live in squalid surroundings and are suffering...

That was a helpful intervention. If there is one place that those in ignorance might consider less likely to be affected, it is Solihull, which is an affluent borough in most respects. Yet there are people who, although apparently invisible to the authorities, live in squalid surroundings and are suffering...

I am delighted that my hon. Friend is presenting this Bill. The hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) pointed out that fuel poverty affects rural and urban areas alike. I was shocked to discover that more than 15 per cent. of people are in fuel poverty in Solihull, which is...

I am delighted that my hon. Friend is presenting this Bill. The hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) pointed out that fuel poverty affects rural and urban areas alike. I was shocked to discover that more than 15 per cent. of people are in fuel poverty in Solihull, which is...

That is a very good point. The—I have forgotten what the commission on rural areas is called. Could someone help me? [Hon. Members: "The Rural Commission."] The Rural Commission has provided me with the useful information that 42 per cent. of households in rural areas are not connected to gas...

That is a very good point. The—I have forgotten what the commission on rural areas is called. Could someone help me? [Hon. Members: "The Rural Commission."] The Rural Commission has provided me with the useful information that 42 per cent. of households in rural areas are not connected to gas...