Mark Lazarowicz, MP for Edinburgh North & Leith, has added his voice to the calls to close a legal loophole preventing householders in Scotland from benefiting from a programme which is already proving successful in England and Wales to rebate council tax to householders who invest in energy efficiency measures.

British Gas launched an initiative offering householders the opportunity of a rebate worth up to £100 on their Council Tax if they install energy efficiency measures. 21 local authorities in England and Wales have already committed to offer the rebate to their residents but, at present, there is no legislation in Scotland that enables a local authority to implement such a scheme here.

Mark Lazarowicz said: “I am currently promoting a Private Members’ Bill in the House of Commons to promote energy efficiency and renewables. Schemes like the one backed by British Gas in England are proving to be really successful. I will obviously be most disappointed if people living in my constituency are unable to benefit from a scheme which is already bringing real savings in energy, and energy costs, to tens of thousands of householders in England. That is why I am backing Sarah Boyack’s call for this loophole to be plugged. I hope that the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive will make the necessary changes in the law as soon as possible.