A pioneering green energy Bill which was debated by the House of Commons today (Friday) now hangs in the balance following lengthy speeches and amendments tabled by two back-bench Conservative MPs.

The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill, a Private Members Bill introduced by Labour MP for Edinburgh North & Leith, Mark Lazarowicz, had successfully completed its committee stage and was expected to complete is final stages in the House of Commons on Friday.

After amendment in the committee, the Bill had gained support not just from the Government but Government but also the Conservative and other opposition parties. However after lengthy speeches by Tory MPs Eric Forth and Christopher Chope, the Bill failed to complete its progress in the House of Commons today (Friday).

The Bill will now return to the House of Commons next Friday 17th March where it still has some possibility of completing its Parliamentary passage.

Mark Lazarowicz said: “I am disappointed at the fact that the Bill’s progress has been so severely delayed this week, although fortunately due to an accident of the Parliamentary timetable it does have another chance of making progress, even though its chances have been significantly reduced”.

Mark said: “What is particularly annoying is that in the only vote of the day the vote was 99-2! I am only sorry that two backbench Conservative MPs do not appear to share the welcome enthusiasm of their own party leader for microgeneration.
I hope that there will be strong support, from MPs on a cross-party basis, to ensure the Bill passes successfully when it comes back to the House of Commons next week”.