The record fails to encourage. Take renewable energy, the heart of the ministers' new strategy. Britain's winds, waves and tides give it the best resources in Europe. But we have neglected renewables so shamefully that we are third to last in exploiting them; only Malta and Luxembourg use less. Opportunities to develop and sell low-carbon technologies have been squandered. Way back in the mid 1970s we were set to pioneer wave power, until the then Labour government killed it. Similarly, we long ago lost a chance to do well from exporting wind turbines.