House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee Pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate for Chair of the Committee on Climate Change Fourth Report of Session 2012–13 Report, together with formal minutes and oral evidence Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 4 September 2012 HC 555 Published on 10 September 2012 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £10.00 The Energy and Climate Change Committee The Energy and Climate Change Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department of Energy and Climate Change and associated public bodies. Current membership Mr Tim Yeo MP (Conservative, South Suffolk) (Chair) Dan Byles MP (Conservative, North Warwickshire) Barry Gardiner MP (Labour, Brent North) Ian Lavery MP (Labour, Wansbeck) Dr Phillip Lee MP (Conservative, Bracknell) Albert Owen MP (Labour, Ynys Môn) Christopher Pincher MP (Conservative, Tamworth) John Robertson MP (Labour, Glasgow North West) Laura Sandys MP (Conservative, South Thanet) Sir Robert Smith MP (Liberal Democrat, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) Dr Alan Whitehead MP (Labour, Southampton Test) The following members were also members of the committee during the parliament: Gemma Doyle MP (Labour/Co-operative, West Dunbartonshire) Tom Greatrex MP (Labour, Rutherglen and Hamilton West) Powers The Committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. Publication The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the internet at www.parliament.uk/ecc. The Report of the Committee, the formal minutes relating to that report, oral evidence taken and some or all written evidence are available in a printed volume. Additional written evidence may be published on the internet only. Committee staff The current staff of the Committee are Sarah Hartwell-Naguib (Clerk), Elizabeth Bolton (Second Clerk), Jenny Bird (Senior Committee Specialist), Luanne Middleton (Inquiry Manager), Katie Phelan-Molloy (Senior Committee Assistant), Jonathan Olivier Wright (Committee Assistant), Danielle Nash (Administrative Assistant), and Nick Davies (Media Officer). Contacts All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Energy and Climate Change Committee, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA. The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 2569; the Committee’s email address is [email protected] 1 Contents Report Page Summary 3 1 Appointment of the Chair of the Committee on Climate Change 5 Annex 1: Correspondence 11 Annex 2: Candidate Brief 13 Annex 3: Candidate’s Curriculum Vitae 22 Annex 4: Register of Interests 25 Formal Minutes 27 Witnesses 28 List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament 29 3 Summary On 4 September 2012 we held a pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate for the post of Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, The Rt Hon Lord Deben PC. On the basis of the evidence provided at this hearing, we have concluded that Lord Deben is a suitable candidate to Chair the Committee on Climate Change and recommend that he be appointed to this position. 5 1 Appointment of the Chair of the Committee on Climate Change Introduction: Pre-appointment hearings 1. The July 2007 Green Paper, The Governance of Britain, proposed the introduction of pre-appointment hearings for key public officials in which Parliament has a particularly strong interest. It stated that in each case, it should fall to the relevant Select Committee to conduct the hearing, which should cover “issues such as the candidate’s suitability for the role, his or her key priorities, and the process used in selection”.1 The outcome of the hearing is non-binding, though the Report from the Committee should inform Ministers’ decision-making on whether to proceed. 2. In 2011, the Liaison Committee published a Report on pre-appointment hearings which included draft guidance for Committees and Departments on the pre-appointment hearing process. 2 3. On 5 July 2012 the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change announced that Lord Deben had been chosen to succeed Lord Turner as Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, the Government’s advisor on setting and meeting carbon budgets and preparing for the impacts of climate change. The Secretary of State wrote to us on 4 July to invite the Committee to hold a pre-appointment hearing. This took place on 4 September 2012. We are grateful to Lord Deben for making himself available to give evidence to the Committee. The Committee on Climate Change 4. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is an independent, statutory Non- Departmental Public Body established under the Climate Change Act 2008. Its purpose is to advise the UK Government and Devolved Administrations on emissions targets, and to report to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 5. In fulfilling this objective, the Committee’s priorities are to: • Advise on the appropriate level of the UK’s carbon budgets and steps required to meet them. The budgets define the maximum level of CO2 and other greenhouse gases which the UK can emit in each 5 year budget period, beginning with 2008-12. • Monitor progress towards meeting carbon budgets and recommending actions to keep budgets on track. • Advise as requested on Devolved Administration carbon targets and strategies, and progress towards reducing emissions. 1 Ministry of Justice, The Governance of Britain (Cm 7170), July 2007 2 Liaison Committee, First Report of Session 2010-12, Select Committees and Public Appointments, HC 830 6 • Conduct independent analysis into climate change science, economics and policy and advising the Government as requested by the sponsors. • Advise on the preparation of the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment and monitoring implementation of the UK Government’s National Adaptation Programme. • Engage with a wide range of organisations and individuals to share evidence and analysis. 6. The Committee provides increased transparency, accountability and independence, operating at arm’s length from the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations, reporting annually to the UK Parliament and the respective Devolved Administrations on the progress being made by the UK towards meeting carbon budgets and targets. 7. The Committee currently comprises seven members: a chair and six independent members. The Committee employs a Chief Executive and a Secretariat of around 34 staff to provide analytical and corporate support and operates with an annual budget of around £4m. It is jointly-sponsored by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government. 8. The Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee was also established under the Climate Change Act to advise the UK Government and Devolved Administrations and reports to Parliament on preparedness for climate change in the UK. The Chair of the Adaptation Sub-Committee sits on the main Committee and it is jointly-sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. The role of the Chair of the Committee on Climate Change 9. The overall purpose of the job, as described in the information pack made available to prospective applicants for the post of Chair, is to “be responsible for steering and developing the overall work of the Committee on Climate Change, while the Chief Executive manages the day to day running of the body. […] He or she will also represent the Committee and promote its strategy and overall direction”.3 The Chair will be the figurehead of the Committee. Key responsibilities will include: • Chairing meetings and determining procedures for the Committee; • Providing excellent vision and leadership; • Being responsible for fulfilling the Committee’s functions as set out in the Climate Change Act including presenting reports to Ministers, UK Parliament and the respective Devolved Administrations; • Overseeing the work of the Chief Executive providing appropriate support ensuring appropriate management and governance within the organisation; 3 Briefing pack made available to prospective applicants for the post of Chair of the Committee on Climate Change 7 • Representing the Committee externally and fostering close working relationships with key experts, including academics, business as well as foreign governments and intergovernmental institutions.4 10. In the information sent to candidates, the Government stated that the position would require the following skills and experience: • A track record of achieving results and providing strategic vision to lead a high-profile public organisation; • An exceptional ability to communicate and build relationships at all levels alongside strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to negotiate, persuade and influence; • The stature and capacity to provide independent and pragmatic advice to Ministers and a track record of dealing with senior representatives of academic, NGO and business sectors, the media, and with policy-makers in central government and internationally; • Expert ability to process and interpret complex information; well-developed analytical reasoning skills