Huhne slams Government climb-down over climate change bill

10.24.00pm GMT Fri 23rd Feb 2007

Chris Huhne MP

Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP today slammed the Government for downgrading the Climate Change Bill, promised in the Queen's Speech, to only a draft bill.

Commenting, Mr Huhne said:

"David Miliband promised a Climate Change Bill this year, and even postponed the key Marine Bill in order to make Parliamentary time for it.

"Now the Government has announced that we will have neither the Climate change Bill nor the Marine Bill this year. This is not just a climb-down but a total shambles.

"The Climate Change Bill will now be presented as merely a draft bill going for pre-legislative scrutiny before a joint committee.

"This means that the Climate Change Bill will be postponed to next year at the earliest, and that the Marine Bill will be even further down the track.

"This is another example of Defra's incapacity to push projects through to completion on time, and also augurs ill for David Miliband's leadership credentials."