In addition to those visits I announced to the House on 7 March on behalf of the Prime Minister, I recently visited the Czech Republic and Malta to discuss with their leaderships the issue of climate change and other European matters. I held a number of bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers and deputy Prime Ministers of both countries, and with the President of Malta. I addressed and debated the issue with an audience of politicians, some of them Cabinet members, academics and senior industry figures. I also gave a speech at the British Council’s youth forum seminar on climate change.
I am very pleased to hear my right hon. Friend tell the House that he has visited Czechoslovakia—[Interruption.] I apologise to the House, I mean the Czech Republic—and Slovakia. I hope that my right hon. Friend, as well as debating the vitally important issue of climate change, also took the opportunity to discuss any innovative opportunities presented to our country—and particularly to John Lightfoot in my constituency, an innovative producer of air-sourced heat pumps that reduce CO2 emissions. Will my right hon. Friend use his good offices to support innovators such as those in Yorkshire who—[Interruption.]
The House will be aware that the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic is very sceptical about the science of climate change, but I must say that many of his Ministers—and, indeed, the deputy Prime Minister—are members of the Green party, clearly showing that the debate on climate change is well under way in the Czech Republic. My hon. Friend will know from my work as the China taskforce chairman that I am delivering a report in Beijing next week on the work being done on climate change. I will also be in Shanghai tomorrow to deliver a speech on those matters and I should like to apologise to the House for having to leave here immediately after my parliamentary time. I will, of course, be happy to mention the excellent work of Yorkshire Forward in promoting the industries of our great county.
I read the Deputy Prime Minister’s speech on climate change—it was a very good speech—but how can he expect it to be taken seriously when the Government are cutting back on climate research at the Hadley centre and when carbon emissions in the UK have risen over the last 10 years while the share of environmental taxes in the economy has fallen? [Interruption.]
As has just been said from a sedentary position, as usual, this is another opportunity for the Liberals to do nothing about these matters except complain. The Government have fully supported the Hadley centre and everyone recognises the professional contribution that it has made to the debate on climate change. The hon. Gentleman should also bear in mind that during the 10 years of the Labour Government, there has been a 28 per cent. growth in our economy, an 8 per cent. cut in greenhouse gases with only a 1 per cent. increase in carbon. That is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has made several proposals to be put before the House in a climate change Bill to deal with emissions. We are proud to put forward our record of achieving twice the target set for us at Kyoto.