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Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill

My understanding is that business rate valuations do include renewable energy installations, but that business can benefit from the financial gains associated with renewable obligation certificates and levy exemption certificates. [Interruption.] On the domestic side—no, householders’ own micro-generation would not make those individuals or households eligible for business rate. That is an important clarification. One important theme has been raised by one or two colleagues, such as the hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith). Many people watching their television screens and hearing about global warming could be forgiven—although I am saying that they should not be—for thinking that the future of the planet is by definition an issue for big people, such as presidents and prime ministers, and big institutions, such as the UN, the G8 and the rest. Of course it is an issue for those big players, but what my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, East said is also important. He was once my Secretary of State, and I am rather in the habit of agreeing with him, so I am happy to agree with him on this important point. To use his phrase, this is about thinking globally and acting locally. When an individual or a community organisation—a school, a church or a community centre—starts to invest in photovoltaics, say, or a micro wind turbine, they are not only making a contribution to their own energy supply but sending out a signal that they are taking responsibility. All of us as individuals—that would certainly be the case for us in the House—are more part of the problem of the misuse of carbon than the solution, but micro-generation enables us, locally and as individuals, to start becoming part of the solution. Now I shall turn to some of the details of the Bill.