Written question asked by William Bain (Labour) on Friday, 25 February 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 1 March 2011. It was answered by Lord Barker of Battle (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 March 2011 on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Climate Change

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on the independence of the Committee on Climate Change of its inclusion in the bodies listed in schedule 7 to the Public Bodies Bill.

Answer: The Government have laid an amendment to the Public Bodies Bill that, if agreed, would remove clause 11 and schedule 7 from the Bill. However even were that not the case, the inclusion of the Committee on Climate Change in schedule 7 of the Public Bodies Bill—along with all other statutory public bodies that would require such a legislative framework if needing reform—would not have changed its independent nature or the important role that it plays.

Secondary information