Climate Change

I do not agree with the hon. Lady. Annual targets do not work for one simple reason. We do have cold winters—for example, 1996 and 2001 were both relatively cold winters—and energy consumption and CO2 emissions went up by some 3 to 4 per cent. compared with other years. By picking a five-year period, we are acting consistently with Kyoto. When other Governments considered the issue in the run-up to the agreement at Kyoto, they thought that annual budgets would not work, and that is why they chose a five-year budget period. I stress that we will have annual reporting to Parliament and it will be clear whether we are on course to meet our budget requirements. The hon. Lady and others will no doubt want to hold us to account, just as we want to be held to account for our actions.