Member

It is important to put this debate in that context because this SI is not an attack on Northern Ireland or on particular communities; it is trying to put the detail right of a policy, which I believe has widespread support in this Chamber and elsewhere, to bring the UK Emissions Trading Scheme into the maritime sector. Of course, we have the problem right now that as soon as you try to put such a scheme into place, there will be issues, problems, exceptions and concerns about how the policy will go forward, and I am grateful to the noble Lords who have underlined some of the problems in getting a policy exactly right. Indeed, I think noble Lords can see how this SI has attempted—for example, with a 50% reduction in chargeable allowances, the additional year before allowances are surrendered, and the review in 2028 being put into the process—to meet a number of those concerns with implementation. The same thing applies to noble Lords’ concerns about parts of the UK’s—let us call them—internal seaways.