Climate Change Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister for that response. He correctly identified these amendments as being of a probing nature, but he and the whole Committee should be grateful to my noble friends Lady Byford and Lord Dixon-Smith for raising the issues in the way they have done—for the first time, although we have had indications of them earlier on various amendments. It shows the potential for tensions that might exist between the United Kingdom Government and the devolved national authorities. We live in a democracy where the governance of one part of the United Kingdom is not forced to be the same or to have the same political beliefs as those of another, and tensions can be built into such a system. It is particularly interesting that the Minister confirms that it is the United Kingdom that will actually have to adjust to any deficiency of delivery by a national authority. I presume that means buying carbon credits internationally in some way or other, so there is a budgetary implication for the United Kingdom Government. I do not know whether the Minister has thoroughly thought that through. I am very reassured by his comments on Amendment No. 96, which made it clear that the Secretary of State has to do, in effect, what our amendments sought to achieve. I am interested in the response we have had to this very useful debate about the relationship of the Bill, the authorities, the discussions that have currently taken place and the commitments that have been made up to date—knowing full well of course that no parliament can bind its successor and that the agreements that have been made with a devolved authority currently within the United Kingdom may not be persistent. It is important that we have mechanisms for resolving these difficulties, because I suspect that differences of political impact and political priorities may produce tensions within the system on occasion. But, given the lateness of the hour and the commitment of the Minister to talk on these matters, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave withdrawn. [Amendment No. 96 not moved.] Clause 17 agreed to. Clause 18 [Alteration of budgetary periods]: [Amendments Nos. 97 and 98 not moved.] Clause 18 agreed to. Clause 19 [Targeted greenhouse gases]: