Derision For Blair Climate Plan As "Major" Bill Downgraded In Commons - Times

[hatrack]

The Government’s commitment to tackling global warming was mocked last night after it emerged that the long-awaited Bill on climate change had been downgraded.

The measure is to be published next month as a draft Bill for consultation by the public and possibly by a joint committee of both Houses rather than as a fully fledged piece of legislation.

Critics claimed that it meant that David Miliband, the Environment Secretary, had been defeated in his attempt to push through the Bill in this parliamentary session. Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, said that it augured badly for Mr Miliband’s leadership chances.

But the minister’s aides denied that he had been defeated. He said that it was still his intention to introduce a legislative Bill before the end of the present session to show the Government’s firm intent to go forward on the issue. An aide said: “It is ridiculous. We have said there will be a Bill this session and there will be. It is not a downgrading.” Even so, senior ministers admitted that a Bill introduced towards the end of the session would have to be “carried over” into the 2007-08 session if it was to become law. Such a move could only happen with the approval of the new prime minister.

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1426537.ece