Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the policy considerations that underpin the departmental view that it is neither desirable nor appropriate that the Government interfere in the market to enforce energy use labelling for domestic or commercial property for sale or rental.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonIt would not be justifiable to compel a householder or property owner to spend a sizeable sum of his own money in this way. However, the Energy Efficiency Office supports the development of voluntary energy labels, and I consider this to be the best way forward. Furthermore, enforcement of the use of energy labels would require sanctions for non-compliance; workable sanctions would be difficult to devise and implement.