Press release
Chancellor George Osborne delivers Autumn Statement
29 November 2011
Commenting on Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement today (Tuesday 29 November 2011), Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:
"George Osborne's Autumn Statement will send a wintery blast through the UK's future economic prospects.
"Throwing billions of pounds at roads and dirty energy will increase our dependency on gas, coal and oil and lock cash-strapped homes and businesses into spiralling fuel bills.
"Just a fraction of the money earmarked for new roads would throw a crucial lifeline to the solar industry - and the 30,000 jobs currently under threat from Government cuts.
"It's astounding that the Chancellor has rewarded lobbying by some of the world's biggest businesses with a £250 million licence to pollute - and using funds culled from benefits rubs salt into the wound.
"The Green Investment Bank could drive a real economic recovery, but by refusing to let it off the leash the Chancellor's missed a golden opportunity to build a safe, clean economy from the rubble of the old."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Friends of the Earth's Final Demand campaign calls for energy we can all afford and a public inquiry into the power and influence of the Big Six energy companies.
2. Energy Intensive Industry got yet another huge hand-out today - tax cuts worth £250m - to go on top of the hundreds of millions of profits they've made from over-allocation of permits in the EUETS, and other tax exemptions. Friends of the Earth says the Chancellor should have put in place measures to help these industries invest in low carbon technology and energy efficiency not give further hand-outs to carry on polluting. It increases the risks of climate change and leaves the UK ever more dependent on fossil fuels.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Nov 2011
