Joined up thinking needed on green issues

The government must show more joined-up thinking on green issues because at the moment there are discrepancies between funding, regulation and education between the departments, according to experts.

The Solar Trade Association says that in order to show that green issues really do have the government's whole-hearted support, there needs to be a show of joined-up thinking and clear policy on green initiatives.

David Matthews, the national executive officer of the Solar Trade Association, said: "Everyone talks about grants I prefer to talk about support because government support can come in a multitude of forms. Once it joins up its thinking, its support will become more clear to the market.

"[What we need is] a good government policy, a funding scheme, a quality scheme, a regulation scheme and then flanking measures training and public awareness. At the moment everything is in different departments."

He explained that press coverage of microgeneration grants will probably lead to an increase in applications for them although due to planning permission being needed before grants can be sought, there will be a cut in speculative applications.


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