---

As amended in the Standing Committee, further considered.

I am not suggesting that we should have nuclear power stations, although nuclear generation would be possible at Winfrith in Dorset. Unlike my right hon. Friend, I believe in a mix of energy from different sources, including nuclear. I should like the proportion of energy from nuclear power to increase beyond the present 20 or 21 per cent. level. I am certainly not suggesting that we should use this provision to set up the equivalent of nuclear power stations. That is a wild red herring. I wish to ensure that the principles of decentralised energy production are carried through, but I do not see that happening properly if we allow individual units of production to generate as much as 20MWe or 100MWt. That is why I tabled the amendment. I do not intend to press it to a Division, but unless the Bill is changed in the other place, it will cause much consternation in local communities. They may feel threatened by community energy schemes, not assisted by them. The large figures are counter-productive for the purposes that my right hon. Friend the Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin) and I agree are worth while. We are not at odds with each other on that, but I think that it would be much better to include in the Bill provisions that would encourage community combined heat and power schemes in small towns in Dorset, instead of them all being concentrated in Ferndown, as is proposed at present. I do not know whether my right hon. Friend gave evidence at the public inquiry, but I did so and suggested that we should have fair shares across Dorset and I am pleased that he agrees with that proposition. This is a useful group of amendments and I am sorry that the Minister has not accepted the reductions. I hope that we will have the chance to reflect on that in due course. We wait with bated breath for the Minister’s report before the end of the month, which will inform our debate on Third Reading and mean that we may have a much more informed debate on the whole issue of climate change and sustainable energy. I shall not comment further on the amendments relating to parish councils, except to say that I am very concerned that the Government amendments—tabled at the behest of my right hon. Friend—could result in parish councils, which have to raise all their money from people living in the parish because they do not get any grants from Government, being encouraged to go on a mad spending spree. Let us hope that that does not happen.