Climate Change Bill [HL]

I am immensely grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken, because they have eloquently expressed a principle that I did not express when I rather dryly introduced these amendments. The noble Lord, Lord Crickhowell, is quite right to say that their correct place would have been in Clause 22, but I really could not see how we could get through Clauses 5 to 21 without debating this important principle. I am extremely grateful to the Minister for his positive reply in recognising the principle and saying that the Government will take the issue away and look at how this might be incorporated in the Bill. Several noble Lords, including the noble Lord, Lord Turner, the noble Baroness, Lady Young, and the noble Lord, Lord Oxburgh, spoke about the necessity of certainty for business. British industry will be floundering without that certainty. Will we in this House start to look at putting in a target as some sort of percentage as a starting point for the climate change committee or will we simply leave it as a principle? I am glad that we will have a break and that we can come back to Clause 22 for a second round even before Report stage. For me, this was one of our most exciting debates because it has concerned an issue of immense principle. We are not talking about just British industry, but the international dimension, as my noble friend Lady Northover mentioned. I am very grateful to the Minister for his reply. It will not be easy to come up with either a percentage or a taper. I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Crickhowell, that this decision will not be easy to arrive at. Are we the correct people to take it? However, we are the correct people to set a principle and that is what we are moving towards. Once again, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken and particularly the Minister for his positive reply. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.