Not so-smart politics

What links chatting-up a barmaid in your local with technology that could help cut domestic carbon emissions and fuel poverty?

You're probably thinking 'where's he going with this?' and that I've inherited the blogging sentiment of the renowned Mr Paver. Well, fear not, I'm not about to start tapping madly at my keyboard about the Norwegians or shooting animals. Instead, I'm highlighting the fact that the Government recently managed to introduce a new EU directive outlawing people from chatting-up bar staff and yet is still failing to reach a decision about the future of smart meters in the UK.

The new law could leave employers at risk of being sued by staff members who feel harassed by a customer's chat-up lines. Now, I'm not condoning flirtatious small talk, but do feel that existing sexual discrimination laws and the common sense of reputable employers already offer bar/restaurant/hotel staff adequate protection. Instead, Government time and effort could be better invested in more pressing matters such as combating domestic carbon emissions, which account for 27 per cent of the country's CO2 levels.

Smart meters provide householders with real-time information about their energy usage in monetary and kilowatt per hour terms, and will help encourage people to improve energy efficiency. Despite the Government backing the technology nearly a year ago and evidence of the benefits of the technology from overseas trials, it has delayed a decision on the future of the technology for several months.

Obviously, I appreciate the Government officials who deal with equality and climate change work in totally different departments. However, it appears Government priorities are somewhat at odds.

Well, at least I can take comfort in the fact that queuing time at the bar will be cut by the decline of flirty bar-flies!

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