Madam, I was very disappointed to hear that neither of our Herefordshire MPs, Bill Wiggin and Jesse Norman, had supported Tim Yeo's amendment to the Energy Bill, to introduce a target for clean energy by 2030.

The opposition to this proposal seems to stem from the idea that it might affect the economy in a negative way. Efforts to support clean energy must be good, not only for the the environment but also for the economy, increasing the confidence of the renewable energy sector, investment in it, and ensuring the creation of thousands of new jobs. Surely this would give a welcome boost to the economy, not least here in Herefordshire, where we have several enterprising renewable energy businesses, and provide social, economic and enviromental benefits? The future costs of dealing with increasing carbon emissions and the consequences, will far outweigh the current costs of reducing them.

Councillor Felicity Norman, Leominster North, Green Party