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Energy Bill

My noble friend presses me with too much precision and detail for me to commit myself on my feet in those terms. I was merely indicating that I understand that what he is driving at has a fair amount of parliamentary support behind it. We are aware that my noble friend has a reputation for some degree of persistence, so it is highly unlikely that even when I get him to withdraw his amendment today—if I am successful in that limited objective—I will have seen the end of the matter, even if there are not further discussions. I was merely indicating to him that I am open-minded about those further discussions. I am not prepared be to pinned down the details at the moment. Let me once again make the obvious point: noble Lords have articulated these issues well enough in the Committee and we, of course, see the potential benefits of smart meters for domestic households. How could one gainsay those benefits and a number of other significant benefits? The noble Lord, Lord Redesdale, raised the issue first in terms of the battle against climate change and the impact on the carbon count. The benefits are readily identified, but the Committee has not been quite so assiduous—and why should noble Lords concern themselves with such matters?—about the potential costs. The Government have to look at costs because they are borne not by the Government but by the people whom the Government represent. He will recognise that we have to do this analysis thoroughly, otherwise we would not be serving the community that we seek to serve.