Energy Bill — Emissions performance standard — rejected — 24 Feb 2010 at 18:00

The majority of MPs voted against restrictions on the amount of carbon dioxide electricity generation plants are permitted to emit.

The majority of MPs narrowly voted (with a 27 MP Labour rebellion) against adding a new clause to the Energy Bill in the during its the Report Stage in the House of Commons. This "New Clause 15" said:

• The Secretary of State may introduce an Emissions Performance Standard to apply to new electricity generation plants to restrict the amount of carbon dioxide that they can emit.
• In setting this standard he must take account of: the most up-to-date scientific knowledge about climate change, the advice of the Committee on Climate Change, the affordability of electricity prices for consumers, and national energy security.
• The proposals must be set out within six months, with the final proposals before Parliament within 12 months.

The debate for this "New Clause 15", beginning with Alan Simpson's speech is here.

During the Parliamentary debate, MPs discussed a story in the Guardian (Tory MPs threaten to send green image up in smoke with emissions vote) that alleged that, while the Conservative Party was intending to vote for the Emissions Performance Standard, it was by a "one-line-whip", meaning that if they didn't like the measure they didn't have to vote, probably forgoing a chance to overturn the Government majority. (This is as opposed to a "three-line-whip", which says that their party expects them to shot up and vote.) This was denied, and an 80% turnout by Tory MPs is above average.

Debate in Parliament | Source |