Shadow Chancellor visits GGF member
TheGGFsstrategy to engage with MPs who haveGGFMembers in their constituencies gathered pace recently whenAnglianHome Improvements hosted a visit from theRt. Hon. Ed Balls MP, Shadow Chancellor on23rdJanuary.
Mr Balls visited Anglian Home Improvements’ Ossett branch in West Yorkshire, where he was welcomed by Mark Allen, Branch Manager and Giles Willson, GGF Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Technical Affairs.
Mark Allen commented, “It was a successful meeting and a pleasure to meet Mr Balls. He was very receptive to our concerns and the broader campaigns the GGF are lobbying for our industry including issues around the overly complex and bureaucratic Green Deal and the GGF’s ‘Cut the VAT’ campaigns.”
During the meeting Mr Balls agreed to accept a comprehensive briefing on the key issues surrounding the GGF’s “Cut the VAT” campaigns on home improvement, maintenance and repair work and on energy efficient windows. In addition, the briefing to Mr Balls outlines the issues around the Coalition Government’s schemes on energy efficiency schemes and in particular Green Deal and ECO (Energy Company Obligation).
Giles Willson noted, “It was a pleasure to support Anglian for this high profile visit and I am pleased our campaigns resonated with Mr Balls. We are delighted to offer further opportunities to meet with the Shadow Chancellor and to provide more detailed information on our multiple campaigns.”
On the subject of further meetings, Mr Balls indicated he would like to visit Anglian’s manufacturing base in Norwich to gain a greater understanding of the company’s operations and vertical integration.
Giles Willson added, “This was a very positive start to the GGF’s engagement strategy with MPs in the run up to the election. It is important we get our messages across and that MPs are fully informed of our Members’ concerns, and the many solutions the GGF is offering to make the UK housing stock more energy efficient.”
With Green Deal and ECO (Energy Company Obligation) both failing to live up to expectations and having little impact, the GGF is lobbying for alternative energy efficiency schemes that will incentivise homeowners, boost business, improve the UK’s building stock and help reduce carbon emissions.
In pursuit of change to existing schemes and potential alternatives, the GGF will continue to work with Members and MPs offices to arrange more meetings and site visits in the run up to the General Election on 7 May and throughout 2015, to gain a greater understanding of how MPs and their respective parties plan to address the issues around improving energy efficiency in existing UK properties.
