Darling pledges £100 million for home heating

25/11/2008

In his keenly anticipated pre-Budget report, chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling announce that he would allot £100 million to help Britons keep their homes warm and reduce emissions.

So too, he set aside an additional £50 million to help people insulate their homes, which could bring down the amount spent on mains gas, electricity and heating oil.

He claimed this second allocation would also help to create more work during the downturn.

"This could create exciting new business opportunities and tens of thousands of jobs - as well as slashing fuel bills and greenhouse gas emissions," he said.

Greenpeace executive director John Sauven told the Independent that the funding gave a green tinge to "an otherwise bleak budget".

Other headline announcements made by the chancellor included slashing VAT from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent, a move which is intended to give consumers boosted confidence as the festive season approaches.