To help get the government’s Green Deal get ‘off the ground’ a special All Party Parliamentary Group has just been launched, with only five months to go before the initiative’s proposed October launch?
But better late than never, this APPG aims to provide some ‘friendly advice’ to Greg Barker, Minister for Energy & Climate and the DECC and suggest the best ways to make the initiative work in practice!
The inaugural meeting included around 50 spokespersons from a wide cross section of interests including suppliers, product manufacturers, builders, local authorities, housing associations and representative industry organisations.
A full list of those present will be made available shortly. It is hoped that at the next meeting, on Thursday 12 June, several homeowners and tenants, will also be present to provide their views and interpretations of the proposed Green Deal. But will there be an private landlords?
Most of the Group’s information may find its way to the DECC where, hopefully, it will be absorbed, disseminated and activated!
The meeting highlighted many salient features that have already been broached including raising awareness of Green Deal, which seems to be sadly lacking at the present time!
This inaugural meeting was co-chaired by Laura Sandys MP and Paul Medlicott, senior associate at CarbonQuarter. 
Peter Hayes heads up the secretariat at CarbonQuarter, which is administering the Group’s findings and activities. Also present were Luciana Berger, Shadow Minister for Climate Change, plus Lord Whitty, Lord Tyler and Lord Best. Simon Wright MP is the Group’s secretary.
National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) members are welcome to attend future APPG Green Deal meetings and further information is available from andrew@nhic.org.uk
In the meantime, the NHIC continues work closely involved through its president The Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, with the Green Deal SME/Provider Group Forum suggested by Mr Barker at a special meeting.
Green Deal really is a major, complex initiative with numerous twists and turns that demand very careful consideration. Indeed, it’s indicative that in Australia a similar scheme was ‘pulled off line’, because it was difficult to comprehend!