Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Amendment) Order 2009

Before the Minister gets to his feet, I should also like to ask one more question. Obviously the order corrects a government mistake but what really worries me is that all these producers stand to lose 500 million renewable transport certificates according to the latest figures that I got this morning, which amounts to something in the region of £300 million. Will the Government compensate these growers? I hope that the Minister will give a categorical assurance as regards importing ethanol, particularly from South America. When we originally dreamed this up four years ago, it never crossed our mind that we would be cutting down the rainforest, growing sugar, making ethanol and shipping it half way round the world. It was absolute madness. I also look forward to hearing the answer that the Minister will give to the noble Earl.