In a recent debate on political hypocrisy, Welsh Labour MP Chris Bryant said that, although his colleagues were aware that leaving TV sets on standby uses almost as much energy as when they are fully on, they were unable to do their bit to fight climate change.

“Nearly every Member of the House and the Government have condemned the fact that many electrical appliances around the country use up the same or nearly the same amount of electricity when they are on standby as when they are switched on,” Bryant told the House of Commons.

“If we are serious about facing up to global climate change, we have to address that problem, yet the televisions in the Palace of Westminster cannot be switched off. They are nearly all either permanently on or on standby.”

Leader of the House Jack Straw replied that he would look into the problem. “Well, I have two old televisions in my room just along the corridor and if I just press a button, they go off,” he said. “A problem can arise when the televisions are placed high on a wall. I will raise the issue with the House of Commons Commission and we will see what can be done.”