LOCAL MP Gideon Amos has challenged Energy Secretary Ed Miliband during a Parliamentary debate on Tuesday (March 24) to extend the roll out of solar panels to car parks and warehouses.

Following a Liberal Democrat Private Member's Bill, new building regulations were published this week requiring developers to fit solar panels as standard on all new houses that are built.

Mr Amos, the party’s spokesperson for housing and communities, is backing the campaign for a set of measures to halve energy bills.

He told fellow MPs in the Commons: “As a former member of the Zero Carbon Homes Task Force, I well remember the Conservatives cancelling the zero carbon homes programme in 2015, presumably they want homes to be colder, more difficult to heat, and more expensive.

“The Liberal Democrats welcome the enactment today of the requirement for solar panels on all new homes.

“My constituents Jan and Jeanette, of the Campaign to Protect Rural England Somerset, have pointed out that were that extended to car parks and commercial buildings, it would generate as much electricity as 15 Hinkley Point power stations.

“Will the Secretary of State extend the solar panels requirement to car parks and commercial buildings?”

Mr Miliband replied: “I accept the Honourable Member’s congratulations on our announcement of the Future Homes Standards today, which are a really important measure, they should never have been abolished by the last Conservative Government.

“On warehouses and car parks, particularly on the warehouse question, we are looking at how we can roll that out more swiftly.

“There is so much unused space that could be used to help cut bills right across the country.”

Afterward the debate, Mr Amos said: "Cheaper energy bills is one big change Government needs to make to help people with the cost of living.”