Taking advantage of free or discounted loft and cavity wall insulation offered by energy suppliers can save consumers an average £120 off their bill every year, and switching to direct debit alone could save around a further £100 each year.

Updated Government figures show that 9.6 million homes don’t have enough loft insulation and 7.8 million do not have enough cavity wall insulation – that’s one in every four homes.

Every major supplier is offering free or cut price deals for loft and cavity insulation, yet not enough people are claiming these deals. Currently 100,000 households are taking up these deals each month when some 200,000 households could be taking advantage of them.

Dr Lee commented: “I encourage constituents to contact their energy suppliers and ask if they would qualify for free or discounted insulation. Bracknell Constituents can also check if they are on the best tariff with their energy supplier. This can save money.”

As the chairman of the All-Party Environment Group, Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, was invited to speak at the Madano Partnership’s breakfast debate on 17^th November 2011. Green Business: Deal Maker or Business Breaker brought together leading figures from the energy industry and from the world of politics. The panel explored how organisations can integrate low carbon initiatives into their business plans and engage with sustainability.

All participants gave valuable input to thought-provoking ideas and suggestions aimed at shaping our future thinking. The outcome of the discussion highlighted that for 83% of respondents, a low carbon strategy was critical for their business and 64% felt this was predominantly driven by client requirements and/or a corporate responsibility agenda. This of course provides further evidence of the need for companies to define and clearly communicate environmental strategies to deliver greater business success.

Dr Lee commented: “The Madano Partnership’s breakfast debate was a great success. I thoroughly enjoyed discussing the important role of the environment in generating future business. I believe that the widespread deployment of low carbon energy generation technologies has the potential to create new jobs whilst reducing UK reliance on imported fossil fuels and thereby improving energy security. The growth of offshore wind and marine energy could revitalise manufacturing in the UK, whilst providing jobs for reskilled workers from the oil and gas sector. Whether it is the public or the private sector businesses we all need to implement sustainable green technologies for the years to come.”

You can watch the video here or download the report below:

Dr Phillip Lee visited Bracknell Forest Council Depot to see the new recycling lorries, which started work in Bracknell Forest this month.

The new lorries feature a dual recycling compartment at the back. This means recycling from blue bins, like newspaper, card, food tins, drink cans and aerosols can be collected in one side and recycling from brown bins, like grass clippings, branches and weeds can be collected in the other side of the same lorry.

This will ensure recycling is picked up in just one trip, reducing petrol costs and carbon emissions.

There are nine new waste and recycling lorries and a refurbished lorry being rolled out from next week as part of a new contract with SITA UK.

Children in Bracknell Forest schools will be asked to name seven of the lorries in the autumn term but residents will be able to put forward their suggestions to name the first three this summer.

Dr Lee commented: “Bracknell Forest has an excellent record of recycling and I was very interested to see the new lorries and to hear the Council’s plans for continuing its efforts”.

In his written response the Prime Minister joined Dr Lee in praising and thanking the fire and police services. He said that at its height there were in excess of 150 fire fighters from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service with support from surrounding Fire and Rescue Services fighting the fire. He explained that there had been deployment of Government funded national assets such as high volume water pumps and that the Government had provided Royal Berkshire with assistance from the Armed Forces.

Furthermore, he outlined that in terms of financial support, the Department of Communities and Local Government is operating a scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance for local authorities to help with its immediate costs following an emergency or disaster in its area.

Finally, the Prime Minister explained that the Minister responsible for Fire, Bob Neill, was ready to provide Dr Lee with further information, and so Dr Lee has followed up this issue further with Mr Neill.

See Dr Lee’s question from PMQs on 4th May 2011 here:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110504/debtext/110504-0001.htm#11050491001757

In response the Prime Minister joined Dr Lee in praising the fire and other services and promised to write to him outlining agreed contingency plans if further financial assistance is required from central Government.
The fire that started Monday has swept through an area of about 200 hectares of Swinley Forest. It caused the A3095 Crowthorne Road to be closed in both directions, the evacuation of residents from thirteen homes in Brookers Row, Crowthorne, as well as closure of Edgbarrow School, Crowthorne Primary School and Wildmoor Heath Primary School. The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service has received assistance by fire fighters from neighbouring forces in this operation.

Public sightseeing on the fire site is a real problem and the fire fighters are urging people to stay away from the area.

See full debate from Hansard here:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmdebate/02.htm

On Tuesday 15th March, Phillip Lee MP got on his bike, to pedal with a Panda for WWF’s Earth Hour, the world’s biggest call for action to protect the planet.

On 26th March, between 8.30pm-9.30pm, the global skyline will be plunged into darkness as families, businesses and organisations across the world switch off lights to show they care about tackling climate change and safeguarding the natural world.

MPs from across the UK showed their support for WWF Earth Hour by pedalling bikes to power up batteries which will be used to project natural world images onto the Royal Albert Hall during Earth Hour.

Dr Lee commented: “I’m delighted to be able to show my support for Earth Hour which reminds us all that we have only one planet Earth, and we will have to come together to protect it from climate change.”

Earth Hour is a global movement that last year saw a record 128 countries and territories join the global display of climate action.

Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK said: “The challenge for our future wellbeing could not be greater. WWF’s Earth Hour is a unique opportunity to join up with millions and millions of people from every time zone on the planet. The result is an urgent message that we want to reduce the impact our energy system has on our planet – a message so powerful that governments and businesses cannot fail to take notice. By acting now we can keep the future bright.”

Visit wwf.org.uk/earthhour to find out more or register to take part.

The town council will use the funding to revive Northerams Wood through groundworks, consultations and meetings for the benefit of the wider community. This will restore a neglected area of land and provide outdoor activities. There will be volunteers to assist with the delivery of the project.

Dr Lee commented: “I am very pleased that the lottery fund has made this award. The proper maintenance of local woodland is very important to many constituents, as is access to them. This money will make a real difference.”

The Government’s move has been welcomed by the AA, who estimates that, if the £100 million is used entirely for roads, it will repair 1.5 million potholes.

The money is in addition to the £831 million already provided to councils for road maintenance this year and the £30 billion of transport infrastructure spending the Government has committed to over the next four years.

Dr Lee commented:
“This money should make a real difference in Bracknell Constituency to the many drivers and cyclists who are fed up with having to continually battle against dangerous potholes, giving them safer and smoother journeys.”

Video from the evidence hearing for the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee in the House of Commons on 15th September 2010 regarding the UK Deepwater Drilling and Implications of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill hearing. Witnesses were Dr Tony Hayward, Group Chief Executive, BP, Plc, Mr Bernard Looney, Managing Director, BP North Sea, and Mr Mark Bly, Group Head of Safety and Operations, BP, Plc.