Statement: Independent Review of Invest Northern Ireland
The report on the Independent Review of Invest Northern Ireland has been published today.
Public consultation launched for draft Circular Economy Strategy for Northern Ireland
The Department for the Economy has launched a public consultation on the draft Circular Economy Strategy for Northern Ireland.
Department makes Civil Service pay offer
The Department of Finance has today made a pay offer for Northern Ireland Civil Service staff for 2022.
Greens call for business energy support to incentivise shift to renewables
4 January 2023
The Greens have urged the government not to reduce the support it provides businesses towards their energy costs, but to use it to incentivise the shift to renewables and energy efficiency.
As the government prepares to announce changes to the support it provides businesses for energy costs [1], Green Party co–leader Carla Denyer said:
“Businesses up and down the country are facing the very real prospect of having to go out of operation because of the multiple crises they are facing due to a failing economy. Now is not the time to reduce support, putting so many jobs, livelihoods and local services at risk.
“Instead, the government should be offering the right package of incentives to help businesses through this cost of living crisis and build a more sustainable future for all. The energy crisis we are seeing is not just a result of this winter, or even the war in Ukraine, but is a consequence of the wider climate crisis, which our government is failing to act upon.
“Businesses tell our councillors all over England and Wales that they want help to become more green by insulating their properties and shifting to renewables.
“The government could use the energy support scheme to help make this happen by incentivising businesses to use renewable energy providers, providing insulation grants, and removing the current perverse incentive where businesses can be punished with increased business rates if they make their buildings more energy efficient.
“Small and independent businesses and enterprises are the lifeblood of local communities and we want to see them thrive as part of a greener, fairer future.”
ENDS
Notes
1
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64155064
For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on press@greenparty.org.uk or call 0203 691 9401
Government needs to “get serious about reducing traffic levels” following latest Active Travel funding announcement
4 January 2023
The Green Party has said the latest government announcement of £32.9 million to create a national network of walking and cycling experts [1] doesn’t come close to delivering the active travel revolution we need.
The funding announced this week aims to support local authorities to enhance their technical skills so that high-quality schemes can be delivered which make it easier and safer for hundreds of thousands more people to walk and cycle.
Green Party transport spokesperson and Leader of the Green Party Group on Bradford Council, Matt Edwards, said:
“It is always welcome to see new funding to help develop world class active travel networks across England. Active Travel England wants 50% of trips in England’s urban areas to be walked, cycled or made by other active travel means by 2030 [2].
“However, this goal is being undermined whilst our local Councils continue to treat active travel as an afterthought. Retraining staff is a good place to start but the government needs to be much more ambitious.
“£33 million is a drop in the ocean when you consider the billions in the Department of Transport budget – £16 billion alone is allocated to just five road building schemes [3].
“Training new teams of experts is pointless without the funding to deliver the programme of schemes we need. The government needs to follow through and get serious about reducing traffic levels and boosting active travel by switching the billions earmarked for building new roads into investing in healthy walking, cycling and other forms of active travel.”
Notes
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/active-travel-england/about
3. https://transportactionnetwork.org.uk/campaign/scrap-road-schemes-to-grow-economy/