Climate Change Bill [HL]

I support the amendment of my noble friend Lord Taylor. I am equally concerned that targets may not be set correctly or, if somebody has a particularly good year, that the next year will be slacker. I would welcome rolling targets. I am grateful for the Minister’s very helpful earlier response. In my comments I am trying to ensure that, when he goes back to reflect on it, he will perhaps include the other comments that have been made. In his earlier response, the Minister referred us to Clauses 28 and 29 and slightly implied that all was well because those clauses covered it. Indeed, those clauses put a duty on the committee to lay information before Parliament, but it does not mean that Parliament will debate it or have any influence over its outcome. Will the Minister look again at Clauses 28 and 29 to see whether they are strong enough? I endorse what my noble friend said about scientific advances. Clearly there will be many in the years ahead. We cannot leave it for five years. These targets need to be adjusted. That is why I did not speak to the first group of amendments. I do not support the Liberal Democrats’ fixed approach but I support my noble friend in his rolling targets and therefore support his amendments.