Clause 14
Climate Change Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Phil Woolas (Minister of State (Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)
I thank the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle for laying out his amendment, which, if I have understood him correctly, would replace the words “report setting out” with
“strategy report setting out the measures”.
Further amendments would replace the word “report” with “climate change strategy”, so I am glad to see that he has adopted the language of new Labour, although I prefer plain English, especially in relation to legislation.
The hon. Gentleman has made a serious point, however, so let me respond. I shall deal with amendment No. 47 separately, as you have asked us to, Mr. Cook, but amendments Nos. 46, 48, 49, 50 and 51 would change the wording to a “climate change strategy” setting out measures, proposals and policies. The practical effect of the amendments would be negligible. The only possible problem with them is that the report will cover measures to reduce emissions only and will not cover adaptation to climate change. There might be a point to calling the report a climate change strategy, but equally it might be misleading.
The report published under clause 14 plays an important part in the greater predictability provided by the Bill’s framework. We all agree that those who are planning investments want to know not only the overall level of the UK-wide budget, but the choice of policies that will be implemented. The report will be crucial in bringing together policies and showing how they will combine to meet the carbon budgets. In that context, we cannot see what amendment No. 46 and amendments Nos. 48 to 51 would achieve. The report required under clause 14 will already have a high status, which has been further emphasised by the Chancellor’s announcement that the Government’s plans for meeting the first three carbon budgets will be set out alongside the Budget 2009.
It is not clear how calling the report a strategy or requiring it to contain measures in addition to proposals and policies will fundamentally change its nature. In addition, calling it a climate change strategy might be misleading, as the report will cover mitigation only—measures to reduce emissions. It will not cover adaptation to climate change, which will be dealt with by the Government’s adaptation programme in clause 56. Of course, I agree with the hon. Gentleman that the report will be an important document, but the amendments are unnecessary. I shall stop there, because I think that amendment No. 47 will be dealt with separately.