---

Energy Bill

I take on board what the Minister is saying about the commitment. That commitment was given, but it is not a statutory commitment in the Bill. Clause 81(5) states: "““The power conferred by subsection (1) may not be exercised after the end of a period of 5 years beginning with the day on which that subsection comes into force””." If you read the analysis of the Bill, which is the statutory requirement, it means that the whole process might not start for five years from the enactment of the Bill, and that is a considerable worry. Perhaps the Minister can say that it is not the intention of the Government to use that entire five years but, in the statutory provision, five years is what the Government are giving themselves.