Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the implications are for his policies of the February 2019 Committee on Climate Change advice that carrying forward surplus from the UK’s second carbon budget (a) would allow emissions to increase when they should be falling and (b) would not be consistent with the aims of the Paris climate agreement; and if he will make a statement.

The UK has a world-leading record in tackling climate change. We are rightly proud of our performance against our carbon targets, having overperformed for the second time, leading us to cut our emissions faster than any G7 country. We remain firmly committed to tackling the threat of climate change and to meeting our future carbon targets through the ambitious plans and policies set out in the Clean Growth Strategy.

The decision to reserve part of the second carbon budget is a technical one which does not impact the Government’s commitment to taking strong domestic action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change.

The Government has deposited letters in the Libraries of the House confirming its decision.