Climate Change Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 63: 63: Clause 11, page 6, line 18, at end insert— ““( ) The authorities referred to in subsection (2) shall be under a duty to cooperate with the Secretary of State in the preparation of the report.”” The noble Duke said: Amendment No. 63 concerns a matter that was raised with me by the Scottish Law Society. I return to the question raised earlier this afternoon by my noble friend Lady Carnegy of Lour regarding the problems that arise when power over the environment issue is, to a considerable extent, devolved to various national authorities and in various ways. I accept that Clause 67(2) contains a general power which says that functions are to be exercised by all the authorities jointly. However, part of the question behind the amendment is whether that clause contains sufficient powers to draw all the contributing elements together. We also return to the time that it will take for the Secretary of State to produce this report on policies and proposals. Obviously the Secretary of State and the Committee on Climate Change will have talked to the devolved Administrations in setting the carbon budgets, but it may still be possible for a devolved Administration to drag its heels as all approach the final hurdle of agreeing the division of the proposals. One can almost see an element of horse-trading coming up here. It will be very important for the Bill to make everyone accept their responsibilities. The problems are many. Even if there can be agreement from all national authorities on the framework of the Bill, the carbon budgets set in Westminster will have effects on the local operations of Governments across the union. Let us consider the emissions produced by cars. Cutting automobile carbon emissions involves local changes in traffic patterns, road pricing or improving public transport. I should also like to ask the Minister for clarification on how precisely he sees the national authorities working with the Secretary of State. Although Scotland has decided to have its own climate change Bill and there is much support for attempts to stop global warming, it appears that a duty is not necessarily placed on the devolved Administrations to implement the policies or strategies of the Committee on Climate Change or those of the Secretary of State. I beg to move.