Climate Change Bill [HL]

I share the reservations of the noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose, about the amendment. I assure the noble Lord, Lord Teverson, that what is in the clause is not a very open position. The legal requirement to publish a report as soon as reasonably practicable is very far from being open; it is a strong requirement. It means that we must publish the report as soon as we possibly can. If we could not convince the courts, should the matter go that far, that we had complied with the clause in these terms, the Government would be at fault. As the noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose, indicated, the budgets involve great complexity. That is why we need the phrase in the clause. Policies to meet budgets are likely to cut across a wide range of issues. The Government must allow time for the Committee on Climate Change to provide its significant advice on carbon budgets and we have to consult the devolved Administrations before bringing forward the necessary instrument for parliamentary approval. That is a pretty demanding schedule. Setting a specific deadline would therefore impose a great restriction on processes when we are seeking the contributions of other significant institutions. As my noble friend Lady Morgan previously mentioned, we are discussing the timing of the Committee on Climate Change’s advice on both the first three budgets and the 2050 target with the shadow secretariat to the committee. After those discussions we may be able to come forward with an amendment that provides a potential timetable on giving due effect to the legislation. We all share the intention of the noble Lord, Lord Teverson, that there not be undue delay. However, the phrase, "““as soon as is reasonably practicable””" does not countenance delay; it merely avoids our having to accept, as the amendment would have us do, an absolutely rigid timeframe within which all consultation would have to be completed. I therefore hope that the noble Lord will recognise that we have an open mind on this consultation process and on how long it will take. We are taking intelligent steps to move as rapidly as we can, but it would not be right to introduce into the legislation an absolutely rigid timetable that might severely affect the quality of the consultation that we could have with those whom we need to consult. On that basis, with the assurance that we are looking at the matter with seriousness, I hope that the noble Lord will feel confident in withdrawing his amendment.