Schedule 6
Climate Change Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal, Conservative)
I am reminded that amendment No. 1 is narrowly drawn. It is not about the generalities of biofuels, but about the role of the administrator. I am sure that Members would agree that the role of the administrator is of considerable importance in the light of the growing understanding of concerns about the origins and derivations of biofuels. I declare an interest: for many years our company has been working with the largest manufacturer of biofuels from used fat. Indeed, we helped to develop the modern techniques that make that a very successful procedure. As should be the case when one declares an interest, I know a bit about the subject, and I support the Liberal Democrat proposals. If the presumption is not tested clearly that biofuels are better than mineral oils and that they do more for the environment than the equivalent fossil fuel, we bring the whole process into disrepute. That ought to be our main concern. It is very important to make that distinction, and I have indeed sought do so for a very long time.
I do not blame the Government, because it was difficult to get biofuels taken seriously, and that has not been helped by the way in which they have been seen, first, as the be all and end all, and the answer to every possible prayer—maidenly or otherwise—and, secondly, by the same people, as precisely the opposite. It is said that there is no good biofuel to be found. Sometimes, those in the campaigning movements should pause awhile and recognise that it is not satisfactory to march people up to the top of the hill, and then march them down again. A little more careful consideration in the first place and a little less precipitate action in the second place, might make it easier for those of us with responsibilities to get a bit nearer the truth. It might also help us to avoid the “I told you sos” from the climate change sceptics, such as the Daily Mail, and all other trouble makers in this area. I hope, therefore, that those from the green organisations who read the report of this debate will recognise that they have not helped the debate about biofuels one little bit.