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Greens push insulation deal in budget

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Published Date: 15 January 2009
By David Maddox
THE Greens last night appeared to be on the verge of landing a historic agreement that will ensure the current Scottish budget is passed.
John Swinney, the finance secretary, appeared to concede ground to Holyrood's two Green MSPs in their demands for £1 billion of free insulation for all houses over ten years.

In his opening speech on the issue yesterday, Mr Swinney seemed to suggest he would offer them pilot schemes before a nationwide roll-out.

"It would be available to all homes in the areas chosen and we would, following evaluation, identify the best way to deliver such schemes over an ambitious timescale," he said.

A Green spokesman said: "This seems very positive – we now have two weeks to thrash out the details."

The comments came in the first-stage vote on the budget, that was passed with only the Lib Dems voting against.





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1

Rufus-T-Firefly,

14/01/2009 22:47:40
"£1 billion of free insulation for all houses over ten years."

For that money Alex Salmond could get a start on the new Forth Bridge.

What is he thinking about?
2

Wardog™,

15/01/2009 01:40:19

Pilot areas seems fine, that is almost what is happening anyway.

I'm not averse to spending on this, it will create jobs and help keep the construction industry ticking over. The big problem with it however is that VAT on insulation simply goes back into the exchequer, it's therefore not an efficient way to spend money.

If Brown was serious about the environment he;'d have slashed VAT much further on insulation and refurbishment work.

Instead he slashed it on party frocks for xmas and decided to build a second runway at Heathrow.

3

Wardog™,

15/01/2009 01:40:55

1. What is he thinking about?

erm, our future as a species?

4

,

15/01/2009 06:48:53
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
5

Rufus-T-Firefly,

15/01/2009 07:05:01
20th Century Idiot, obviously the SNP want to get the budget through.

All Salmond has to do is throw his toys out the pram and threaten to resign like last year you brainless wonder.
6

Rufus-T-Firefly,

15/01/2009 07:06:53
Wardog, as in the new Forth Bridge? Do the greens agree with that?
7

Wardog™,

15/01/2009 09:05:44
7. Rufus

The sue of the existing bridge as a green public transport corridor, well yes, it;s a way to reduce overall road traffic.

But hey what does it matter to you Rufus, you don't really buy into this global warning stuff do you, infact you've been a bit disappointed with cameron and brown all round haven't you.

Nevermind, brown has just doubled UK Carbon output by nodding the go-ahead for a second runway at Heathrow.


8

Goat Boy,

15/01/2009 09:37:52
Wardog makes a very good point. Insulation of homes is one of the more effective measures we could take to reduce CO2 emissions. Reducing (or removing) VAT on energy saving materials and appliances would certainly help.

As for Alex Salmonella saying he would resign if he didn’t get his own way; I suspect that he said that simply to cheer us up.
9

Dumb Eye @,

15/01/2009 09:39:36
Wardog,

Do try to keep up, Heathrow has had two runways for years, in fact they've just been given the go-ahead for a third.
10

Wardog™,

15/01/2009 09:52:22

10. Dumb Eye @

Well spotted, apologies
11

Alan B,

15/01/2009 16:09:02
Higher building standards for new builds should have been brought in a while ago.

People should be encouraged to insulate their house but for the government to pay for it is not the best way. Having a lower council tax band would be a better. Free insulation would mean people that have already insultated and paid for it would lose out as there taxes would be paying for people that did not insulate.
12

,

16/01/2009 10:58:55
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:

 

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