Climate Change Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister for that response. Words mean everything and nothing, really. I suppose that the difference between ““report”” and ““strategy”” is that ““report”” tends to be retrospective while ““strategy”” is looking forward. The whole thrust of this Bill is about the need to look forward to see what we do next. We need to report and to know where we are, but we also need—and this is the point of these amendments—to place centre stage the notion that we require methods for addressing the issues and a course of action that is clearly stated by the climate change committee and available to the Government. As I said, we need more than just suggestions and I hope that that will run through all the Government’s thinking on this. The Committee on Climate Change is not just a suggestion box. It exists to provide the thrust of the argument that the Government will then use to implement policy. The noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, raised an interesting point in his kite flying, which, although not strictly speaking part of these amendments, goes to the heart of what I suspect Parliament’s response will need to be. I would like, as I am sure we all would, Parliament to play an active role in following this Bill through to the Committee on Climate Change’s activities and the Government’s responses. I am sure that Parliament will find vehicles for doing that, not just in another place but here, too. Indeed, the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill has been one of its strengths. If these debates have resonance, it is because there is a cadre of Members speaking in Committee who have great experience of the Bill through the time that they spent on the committee chaired by the noble Lord, Lord Puttnam; they have brought that knowledge to our debates, which has been very useful. I would like to think that post-legislative scrutiny will be equally important to the parliamentary process. I keep on about these three things: Parliament, the Government and the Committee on Climate Change. This Bill can be effective only if all three feel that they have bought into the process. However, having heard what the Minister said, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 59 not moved.]