Brighton Pavilion's MP today responded to the Government's publication of its draft Carbon Plan, warning that the Coalition's true colours on the environment would only be revealed in the Budget later this month.

Caroline said:

"As a shallow compilation of the energy and climate policies already outlined by Government, the Carbon Plan does the job - but it contains little that is new, and the real depth of the Coalition's commitment is yet to be revealed in this year's Budget. 

"Some Government departments clearly take their environmental responsibilities more seriously than others, so the Carbon Plan's aspiration for more recognition of the ambition needed to meet the UK's emissions reductions targets should be welcomed."

She continued:

"Ultimately, however, for ‘Green Week' to amount to anything more than ‘green wash, ministers must for a start provide cast iron guarantees that the Green Investment Bank will be a properly funded bank which supports only truly green projects.

"They could also show more joined-up thinking on energy by including a robust Renewable Heat Incentive in the Green Deal - with subsidised interest rates for that Deal - and offer greater certainty on Feed In Tariffs to boost the renewables industry."

ENDS