UK GOVERNMENT STANDING IN WAY OF RENEWABLES ONCE AGAIN

Commenting on reports that the Government will oppose binding targets for renewables when EU leaders meet next month to decide on a European Energy Package, Lib Dem European spokesperson on Energy Fiona Hall MEP said:

"Sadly, these reports are all too believable.

"In 2005 Labour Ministers refused to support binding targets on energy efficiency and earlier this month a Cabinet Office official confirmed to me that Labour Ministers were set to oppose binding targets on renewables too.

"How can the Government claim to be committed to tackling climate change when it is not prepared to sign up to targets on renewables?

"It is meaningless to set a grand target for reducing carbon dioxide emissions without breaking that down into a roadmap of precise objectives which will achieve that reduction. No business would dream of setting an overall target without a detailed plan of how to get there."