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Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) on presenting an important Bill and a well-researched and considered case on climate change and sustainable energy. In the interests of time, which I know we all take seriously, I will not comment in detail on all that has been said—I hope Members will forgive me—but I will say that, at times, the talk here this morning has been as green as the House of Commons Benches. I find that significant. The private Member’s Bill procedure is important. Some 10 years ago I had the opportunity through the ballot and the privilege through the House of introducing what became known as the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995, with much support from the then Conservative health Ministers. I have told my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith privately that if I, a mere Labour Back Bencher in those days, could present a Bill under a Conservative Government, surely it may be possible for a Labour Member to do so now. My hon. Friend is himself a renewable source of energy, as he moves around the Chamber simply to confuse me! [Laughter.]