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Energy Bill

I have a great deal of sympathy with what my noble friend has to say. The department is very concerned to discuss strategies with other departments that relate to the targets. To take the most obvious point, the Government intend to ensure that their buildings should be carbon neutral in the very near future, a reflection of the fact that contrary to many impressions, government departments can relate to each other over the question of the establishment of targets. My noble friend is also right that certain aspects of government procurement lend themselves well to good practice. Whether that could lead to export opportunities in this area is an interesting question, but I should say that the number of industries that feel they have increased their export potential through government procurement strategies—there is one very significant exception and I leave the Ministry of Defence out of this contribution—is limited. I do not say that it does not have its part to play, but I do not have a briefing to show whether it would meet the particular area identified by my noble friend.