To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he discussed the effect of the UK committing to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. by 2020 with representatives of other governments at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. (324704)

[holding answer 29 March 2010]: My right hon. Friend did not discuss the effect of the UK committing to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. with representatives of other Governments at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK of a reduction in the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. by 2020. (324762)

[holding answer 29 March 2010]: In July last year we published a Low Carbon Transition Plan and an accompanying analytical annex that set out how we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet our carbon budgets and the cost to the UK of doing so, consistent with reducing emissions by 34 per cent. by 2020. Were we to move to a higher target and set new carbon budgets consistent with that, then the Climate Change Act, requires that we publish our proposals and policies for delivering those emissions reductions as soon as is practicable following the setting of new budgets in legislation.