Climate Change Bill [HL]

If the noble Earl will forgive me, I will not go down the single farm payments route this evening. Sufficient unto the day is the challenge thereof, and we have quite enough with this Bill as it is. This Bill does not underestimate the necessity of engaging with the public and ensuring that we can only make progress. If there is answerability for decisions taken, we take the whole of society with us. That is why the broader approach of the Government is that all new policy proposals will be examined for their impact on business, charities, the voluntary sector and so forth. All that must be subject to an impact assessment to determine the costs and benefits of the proposals. It is clear that we will be going through a process of considerable business and societal change, but we are building into the Bill a model to ensure that there is careful assessment of the impact of the policies that are to be followed. In addition, I emphasise that we are committed to help businesses to reduce their carbon emissions. It is not a question of dictation, which suggests that others should jump to the Government’s tune; this is a way in which the resources of society are committed to help those who need to be assisted with change for the benefit of the overall objective. We will be helping businesses with the reduction of carbon emissions and encouraging the development of new low-carbon technologies. We grant-fund the Carbon Trust, which is the private company established by the Government to work with businesses on energy efficiency. We also offer the enhanced capital allowance scheme for energy-saving technology. That is government assisting the necessary processes of change which businesses will need to undertake. Ministers from Defra and across government—of course, the Treasury will play its role in this—will regularly meet employer organisations and trade unions to discuss a wide range of issues, including climate change and technology. Good government requires us to consult widely, particularly when we have to effect the transformation in society which this Bill envisages, and when we bear in mind the nature of the challenge which global warming represents. The Bill already has an expert independent body—the Committee on Climate Change—to provide advice on the budgets. I cannot see that the amount of expensive administration needed in setting up an additional body would be justified in the purpose for which it is proposed. We have established a body, which is charged and fully accountable to the nation through Parliament, to take responsibility for this process. The Bill makes it absolutely clear that it must be governed by accountability and that there needs to be a significant committee on climate change at the centre of it. I entirely understand that my noble friend is motivated by the highest principles and that you achieve large change in society only through consent. Governments will have to take people with them down difficult roads. There is no doubt that there is pain in this process as well as gain. There is a growing realisation in the wider society that if we do not control and abate the growing impact of global warming, it will produce disastrous consequences for us all. That is the basis on which we expect and can anticipate the whole of our society to respond to the challenge. The Opposition here and in the other place will do their job of critical scrutiny of the Bill and at times we will look divided, but every sentiment expressed from both Opposition Benches is set against an acceptance of the broad principles of what the Bill seeks to achieve. It is a challenge to which we all need to respond. I hope that my noble friend will recognise that the legislation envisages just that.