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Item 2 relates to recent announcements on carbon capture and storage and energy prices. All members will be aware of the announcements made last week. I have had a representation by e-mail from one member to suggest that we invite Chris Huhne to give evidence as soon as is feasible. He has given evidence to the committee before. It was a productive session, so I think that the suggestion is a good one. There will be some scope for it because the bill that we are due to get has been delayed by a couple of weeks. We therefore have capacity.
Under the respect agenda, it would be worth while to understand the background and have the opportunity to question Chris Huhne as the minister responsible. I am all in favour of exchanges of participation in these committees.
I would certainly welcome the opportunity to speak to the UK minister, but there are also relevant questions for the Scottish Government—less about the causes of the collapse of the current project and more about the built-in assumptions in Scottish energy policy about the deployment of CCS. If CCS will not be available for a number of years, if ever, what does that do for Scottish energy policy?
I think that the sensible proposal is that we invite both Chris Huhne and Scottish ministers to appear before us.
I would also like an independent witness. I would not want an evidence session to be just the UK Government defending its position and the Scottish Government defending its position. I would like to see some independent analysis on the impact of the decisions. I am not sure who we would go to for that but, if we are to have an evidence session I would like some balance in the debate rather than just two Governments arguing between each other about the impact.
Let me make it clear that I did not want to have a go at Chris Huhne; I just want to understand the strategy, where it is going and the likely implications on our strategy.
Professor Haszeldine would be a reasonable option.
I would accept that.
Are members content for the clerks and me to progress that?