Climate Change and SustainableEnergy Bill

I stand corrected, Madam Deputy Speaker, so I will not mention the trials and tribulations of Cambridge city council. Although we were able to improve the Bill in Committee, all the way along we found it extremely difficult to deal with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister—or the office of derisory planning measures. I have to say good riddance to the Department in that incarnation. In its new shape and form, I hope that it will be rather more progressive and enlightened about microgeneration and energy efficiency and that it will buy into the climate change agenda properly. However, let us be glad for this important first step and look forward to further measures to promote decentralised energy. I thank everyone who has been involved with the Bill. The Minister was helpful and constructive in Committee. If I may, although I know that I might be told off by you, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would especially like to thank Rachel Crisp, one of the Minister’s civil servants. I am told that she engaged with the non-governmental organisations in an unprecedentedly extensive and constructive way—I can see her blushing in the Box. I also thank the Micropower Council, the team of which has advised me throughout the Bill’s passage. I especially pay tribute to that doughty old campaigner, Ron Bailey, who has many fans and supporters throughout the House. The council has represented the interests of the new industry with determination and skill. If and when the industry really takes off, it will be, to a great extent, because of the efforts of its members. Anyone in the industry would be well served by joining the Micropower Council. Let me return to the question of cross-party consensus. It is important that we agree whenever possible, but that must not mean that we have a cosy love-in and fail to work with rigour or challenge new ideas. We must urge each other to go further if we are really to find answers to the great challenge of climate change.