COVENTRY: Peter Hindle MBE, speaking on behalf of Saint-Gobain in the UK & Ireland, strongly supported the need to address the country's unprecedented budget deficit. 

Mr Hindle stated: "While we welcome the emphasis placed on investment in green energy and infrastructure in the Spending Review, we believe that more work is needed to ensure that initial plans can be successfully implemented to ensure a viable and sustainable long-term solution. 

"The announcement of funding for the Green Investment Bank is a positive step in the right direction, although the initial sum stands less than expected at £1bn and highlights the need for further consultation to determine how this will be sustained going forward.

"In my view, it is vital that the Government seizes the opportunity presented to generate economic recovery through green retrofit, dealing with the challenge to move society towards low carbon usage, reduced energy usage and tackle fuel poverty while also stimulating the economy and creating jobs.

"The news that the Government will not cut the feed in tariff is extremely positive, as is the announcement that £860m funding has been set aside for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which will be introduced from 2011-12 and is expected to drive a more than-ten-fold increase of renewable heat over the coming decade.

"More work is needed regarding the mechanics involved to ensure a practical and achievable solution which generates enough demand. One aspect of this is that the RHI needs to be structured in such a way as to avoid upward pressure on UK and timber product prices.

"In terms of improving the efficiency of existing households, the decisions to continue the Warm Front scheme and fulfil the Decent Homes standard are welcome moves. However, with cuts of over 50% to the Warm Front programme needing to be made, there is still uncertainty regarding how the UK will address fuel poverty and meet carbon emissions targets," Mr Hindle concluded.