To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what recent evidence he has received casting doubt upon the importance of the greenhouse effect.

The report of the science working group of the intergovernmental panel on climate change is clear that, without some change in the rate of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, there will inevitably be some consequent warming of the earth's atmosphere. Considerable uncertainty remains as to the scale and timing of such a warming, but, potentially, it could be of the highest importance for our future. I have seen no authoritative evidence to the contrary. However my right hon. Friend has received a number of letters expressing an alternative view. All but one of these have been from my hon. Friend.