Clearview National April 2015 - Issue 161 | Page 30

ggfNEWS

GREEN DEAL AND TRADING
STANDARDS COMMONS DEBATE
»»Following a number of
complaints regarding Green Deal providers,
Chloe Smith MP raised the issue in a debate
in the House of Commons. Prior to the
debate the Glass and Glazing Federation
(GGF) briefed Ms. Smith and other MPs
on;
• The importance of Glazing in Domestic
Energy Efficiency
• Incentivising the Green Deal and Energy
Company Obligation
• Energy Efficiency in Private Rented
Properties

In addition, the GGF issued a statement
on Politics Home website raising the c oncerns
over the policing of the Green Deal and ECO
supply chain. To read the full statement visit:
https://www.politicshome.com/document/
press-release/glass-and-glazing-federation/
ggf-ahead-chloe-smith-mp-westminster-halldebate
Nigel Rees, GGF Group Chief Executive,
commented, “We’re happy to brief all MPs
on our campaigns and the key issues affecting
our Members and the wider industry. It came
as no surprise that the policing of Green Deal

MORE FOCUS NEDDED
ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY
»»The Glass and Glazing
Federation attended the UK
Infrastructure Conference in
February at the Institute of Civil
Engineers in Westminster and
called for politicians and policy
makers to put more emphasis on
energy efficiency with regards to
UK infrastructure construction
projects.
Nigel Rees, GGF Group
Chief Executive was part of the
delegation that heard key speakers
including, Sir John Armitt

present the Armitt Review of
Infrastructure Planning as set up
by the Labour Party in 2012. Sir
John was asked to examine:
• whether a new institutional
structure can be established
that better enables the
long term decision making
necessary for strategic
infrastructure planning
and;
• how political consensus
can be forged around these
decisions.
The National Infrastructure
Commission is the key
recommendation which has
emerged from the Review
- both Ed Miliband MP,
Shadow Prime Minister and
Ed Balls, Shadow Chancellor,
announced in July 2014 that
Labour would implement this
recommendation.
Nigel Rees, GGF Group Chief
Executive commented “It was an
interesting conference but there
was perhaps too much focus on
energy and not enough on energy
efficiency.”
For further information go to:
www.ggf.org.uk

30 » A PR 2015 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M

was the subject of debate. We would welcome
a complete review of the Green Deal supply
chain from providers, assessors through to
installers.”
To read the Parliamentary debate on
Green Deal and Trading Standards visit:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/
pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm150210/
halltext/150210h0002.htm

“Boost our industry”
Ahead of the Budget, the Glass and
Glazing Federation (GGF) wrote to
the Chancellor, George Osborne
MP to outline GGF Members’
concerns on several issues affecting
the Glass and Glazing industry.
»»In his letter, Nigel
Rees, GGF Group Chief
Executive, referenced the
importance of energy efficient
windows for homeowners
and growth in both local and
national economies. The GGF
highlighted how the 20% rate
of VAT has created an uneven
and unfair playing field that
energy efficient installation
companies and homeowners
face when installing energy
efficient glazing.
Nigel Rees commented, “Like
most other energy efficient
products, windows and doors
that have been specifically
designed to save energy should
receive the lower 5% rate of
VAT that applies to other
energy efficient products. There
are significant long term benefits
if the VAT rate on energy
efficient glazing is reduced from

the current rate of 20% to a rate
of 5%. This inequality is both a
disincentive for homeowners to
install energy efficient glazing
and also a trading disadvantage
for glass and glazing companies.
Once again, we urge the
Treasury to seriously look at the
possibility of reducing the VAT
rate to boost our industry and
the economy.”
For further information go to:
www.ggf.org.uk