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Climate Change Bill [Lords]

We are disappointed that the Government have not shown greater leadership and urgency on the issue of mandatory corporate reporting. There is, however, much in the rest of this group of new clauses and amendments of which we are in favour. For instance, Government amendment No. 44 brings forward the Secretary of State's reporting date by one year, which is extremely sensible. On the issue of mandatory reporting, we feel that the Government ought to take a real lead. Simply introducing a measure that allows at least four years—nearly as long as the entire duration of the second world war—before we can reach a point at which we will, or perhaps will not, introduce mandatory corporate reporting is not good enough. There was a good deal of merit in new clause 5, but we believe that there is a strong case for allowing the leading group of companies—perhaps a small group such as the FTSE 350, the majority of whose members already report their carbon emissions—to lead on a set of standards. We have to accept that internationally accepted accounting standards are already changed regularly. It seems that we are allowing the perfect to become the enemy of the good. We would like Britain to start to blaze a trail by allowing our leading companies to have a clear and defined role, but the Government are failing to give that leadership. It being Nine o'clock, Madam Deputy Speaker put forthwith the Question already proposed from the Chair, pursuant to Order [9 June]. Clause read the Second time, and added to the Bill. Madam Deputy Speaker then put the Questions necessary to dispose of the business to be concluded at that hour.