Climate Change Bill [HL]

My amendment is grouped with this one, and it reinforces the desire to have an annual progress report. The impacts of climate change are indeed very striking. I hope that I am right in citing that, out of the past 50 years, the past 11 to 12 have been some of the hottest on record. I accept that from time to time during the years ahead that pattern may well change, and we may go from hot to cold. That should not stop us from coming forward with a report to reflect the circumstances with which we have had to cope during that year. Like the noble Lord, Lord Teverson, I think that the expression ““from time to time”” lacks focus and suggests that it is not important, when it is very important. I support the amendments tabled by my noble friend, which tend to be similar to mine. I hope that the Minister will say, ““Yes, we particularly like that one and we will take it on board””, but I am not really worried about which amendment it is. The Minister could even come back and say, ““No, we cannot accept them as they are, but in theory we support the message behind them””. We are asking the Minister to accept that the rationale of a five-yearly timetable for risk assessment and action planning does not give adequate opportunities for public scrutiny of the progress that has been made or the opportunity to hold the Government to account for delivery, particularly if the five-year intervals overlap different Parliaments. It is important that there should be a minimum requirement to report to Parliament every year on the progress made on delivering the programme of action. I hope when the Minister responds, if he is not able to accept the amendment or indicate that the Government would be willing to move on this, he will state very clearly why not, because it is not asking too much of the Government to do what the group of amendments is asking for.