Budget plans to reduce emissions

An extra £1bn will be given to low-carbon industries and £405m to advanced green manufacturing with an additional £1.7bn pledged for employment support.
Food and Drink Federation director general Melanie Leech said: “The Chancellor has been brave in committing the Government to the concept of carbon budgets in today’s statement. But there was little detail, which is all the more surprising given the urgent need for Government to engage with industry partners to discuss practical ways of meeting what are very ambitious targets.”
She added: “We welcome the targeted fiscal initiatives announced in the Budget today ­– particularly the Chancellor’s promise to support a top-up trade credit insurance scheme, ending months of uncertainty about an issue that has become a massive headache for companies of all sizes in our sector. But other aspects of the Chancellor’s Budget – notably his decision to increase fuel duty by 2p per litre in September – will do little to improve our competitive position.”
In employment, £250m will be used to help people get work experience in growth industries and, from January, all under-25s out of work for a year are to be offered a job or training place, with extra money on top of benefits for those in training.
Unite joint general secretary Derek Simpson said: “We welcome the government’s action, but manufacturing workers need more support now because once those jobs go, they will go for good.”

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