VIEW FROM THE LOBBY A
s Parliament headed into recess, the final date for the first payments of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) arrived on 31 July. Under the government’s CRC scheme, businesses with high energy use are required to make annual payments to the Treasury based on their carbon emissions. Originally, these payments were to be returned to those in the scheme who improved their energy efficiency, but this decision was reversed during the Coalition’s Spending Review, when it was decided that revenues from the CRC would remain with the Treasury.
Estimated to bring a £750m boost to the public purse, it will be interesting to see just how much of this money the Chancellor intends to invest in renewable energy and technologies. Too little, and it could be viewed as just another tax, forcing many to question government’s commitment to carbon reduction policies.
The renewable energy and technology market offers huge opportunities for those in the electrical contracting business. It has the potential not only to boost the economy, but also to create much- needed new jobs. It is crucial that the government gets it right, raising and spending taxes wisely and ensuring that schemes such as the CRC and Green Deal are fit for purpose. Earlier this year, the Department of Energy and
by Carol Wrench, head of Communications
Climate Change (DECC) also issued a consultation document on the simplification of the CRC – which, in its current form, is administratively very heavy. There is a view that the Treasury wishes to make it a straight energy tax to be calculated pro-rata, rather than being paid as a lump sum, as is currently the case. The final outcome will be known in the autumn. Once Parliament returns from recess, the ECA will be calling on the Chancellor to tell us exactly how much money raised through the CRC will be invested in making the renewable energy and technology market viable.
Building Regulations In February, ECA CEO, Steve Bratt and NICEIC
The ECA will be calling on the Chancellor to tell us exactly how much money raised through the CRC will be invested in making the renewable energy and technology market viable
CEO, Emma Clancy gave evidence to the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee inquiry into the Building Regulations. In April, the committee reported back, supporting our view that: Part P has strengthened standards; there should be no reduction in these standards for electrical contractors working in the domestic sector; and that standards governing work that is carried out under Part P and that is classified as non-notifiable should not be relaxed. While the committee did not support our calls for mandatory registration for electrical operatives within a Part P scheme, it did recommend that government report back in 2014. The government has responded, stating that it, too, does not support mandatory registration at present, but will review the situation and report again by April 2015. In conjunction with the submission to the Select Committee inquiry, the ECA also responded to the Building Regulations consultation in late April, and has since written to the Building Regulations minister, Andrew Stunnell, to outline our position in more detail – including a move to risk-based assessment, where good practice is rewarded. We are also working to engage with the Department for Communities and Local Government on this area.
n Visit
www.eca.co.uk/lobbying for more info on the ECA’s engagement strategy and lobbying.
2012 ECA circulars
AUGUST 2012 n Circular 139 2012 – Specialists urge Government and Local Authorities to push forward with PAS 91 Date published online: 08/08/2012. Category: Pre-qualification. n Circular 138 2012 – Iconic UK construction projects remembered Date published online: 08/08/2012. Category: Sales and marketing. n Circular 137 2012 – Latest information on HSE’s ‘Fee for Intervention’ cost recovery scheme Date published online: 08/08/2012. Category: Health and safety. n Circular 136 2012 – Free FLASH+ Workshops for eligible companies in the South East Date published online: 08/08/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 135 2012 – ECA Edmundson Award winners announced Date published online: 02/08/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 134 2012 – Siemens & Carbon Trust join forces to deliver the Energy Efficiency Financing scheme Date published online: 02/08/2012. Category: Environment. n Circular 133 2012 – Door Step Selling Date published online: 02/08/2012. Category: Tendering and contract administration. n Circular 132 2012 – Introduction of
20 ECA Today September 2012
Employment Tribunal Fees Date published online: 02/08/2012. Category: Employee relations. n Circular 131 2012 – Proposed new legislation on employment tribunals Date published online: 02/08/2012. Category: Employee relations.
JULY 2012 n Circular 130 2012 – ECA calls on Government to boost infrastructure and stimulate economy Date published online: 26/07/2012. Category: Finance matters. n Circular 129 2012 – Contractors warned of new ‘mandate fraud’ scam Date published online: 26/07/2012. Category: Finance matters. n Circular 128 2012 – Sources of Regional and European funding Date published online: 26/07/2012. Category: Finance matters. n Circular 127 2012 – Let us know your views and queries on Building Information Modelling (BIM) Date published online: 26/07/2012. Category: Tendering and contract administration. n Circular 126 2012 – Cash boost to tackle empty homes Date published online: 18/07/2012. Category: Tendering and contract administration. n Circular 125 2012 – Have you entered the Electrical Industry Awards? Date published online: 18/07/2012. Category: Sales and marketing.
n Circular 124 2012 – Compulsory workplace pensions
Date published online: 18/07/2012. Category: Employee relations. n Circular 123 2012 – Crossrail engages with SMEs Date published online: 18/07/2012. Category: Tendering and contract administration. n Circular 122 2012 – Earthing, Bonding and the Wiring Regulations: Join our technical webinar Date published online: 18/07/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 121 2012 – ECA participating in Government roundtable on the Green Deal Date published online: 11/07/2012. Category: Environment. n Circular 120 2012 – Late Payment of Commercial Debts Date published online: 11/07/2012. Category: Finance matters. n Circular 119 2012 – ECA launches new Electrical Quantity Surveying course Date published online: 11/07/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 118 2012 – BSI releases new Standard, BS EN 15232:2012 Date published online: 11/07/2012. Category: Technical. n Circular 117 2012 – New £8m scheme gives major boost to the South West’s green economy Date published online: 04/07/2012. Category: Environment. n Circular 116 2012 – USA apprentice exchange winner announced
Date published online: 04/07/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 115 2012 – ECA website on your smartphone Date published online: 04/07/2012. Category: ECA service updates. n Circular 114 2012 – Do you need a PAL or PAL+ licence? ECA Members receive 15% off Nationwide Platforms courses Date published online: 04/07/2012. Category: Training.
JUNE 2012 n Circular 113 2012 – Help us develop a new finance tool for Registered Members Date published online: 27/06/2012. Category: Environment. n Circular 112 2012 – Seminar on the Principles & Benefits of Project Bank Accounts Date published online: 27/06/2012. Category: Finance matters. n Circular 111 2012 – Have your say on proposed new competency criteria for MCS Date published online: 27/06/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 110 2012 – Please report excessive Health & Safety advice or instructions Date published online: 27/06/2012. Category: Health and safety. n Circular 109 2012 – ECA’s Wired for Success initiative the subject of a Parliamentary Roundtable Date published online: 27/06/2012. Category: ECA service updates.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72