Wales needs to take the Green Road out of the Recession - Willott (Vale of Glamorgan Liberal Democrats)

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Vale of Glamorgan Liberal Democrats <valelibdems@hotmail.com>

Wales needs to take the Green Road out of the Recession - Willott

December 18, 2008 12:00 AM
Originally published by Welsh Liberal Democrats

Today, the Welsh Liberal Democrats outlined how the party's plans to put Britain on a 'Green Road out of the Recession' would benefit Wales by creating jobs and leaving a legacy that will save energy, put money back into people's pockets and fight climate change.

The plans outlined will cost £12.5bn, which would be paid for by scrapping the Government's proposed VAT cut. The vast majority of that money will be spent immediately, making a real impact on the economy and people's lives right away.

The 'Green Road out of the Recession' proposals would:

· Insulate every Welsh school and hospital within 5 years

· Help Welsh households in fuel poverty by funding insulation and energy efficiency for tens of thousands of homes and a £1,000 subsidy for many more

· Create thousands of new jobs, especially in the struggling construction industry, which has seen 12,000 jobs go in Wales in the last year

· Install smart meters in every Welsh home within five years

· Building extra zero-carbon social houses

· Boosting the rail network through new train carriages, reopening old railway lines and stations, and opening new ones

Commenting, Jenny Willott, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions Secretary and MP for Cardiff Central, said:

"The Welsh economy is in a desperate state, 150 jobs are going every day, families are struggling with bills and more elderly and vulnerable people are being plunged into fuel poverty every day.

"The Government's rescue plan to borrow £12.5bn to pay for a 2.5% cut in VAT is a pathetic response that most people simply won't notice.

"The Liberal Democrats would spend this £12.5bn on a major economic programme to save energy, reduce bills, fight climate change, and create thousands of Welsh green jobs, especially in the struggling construction industry,

"This would pay for insulating Welsh schools, hospital and fuel poor households, building new social housing, installing money-saving smart meters and boosting the rail network."Wales has already shown that it has the potential to be a world leader in green technologies and business. Now is the time to put the foot to the floor and drive the Welsh economy down the green economic road.

"Our proposals would make a real difference to people's lives straight away, create new jobs, and build the infrastructure for a lasting, green economic recovery."

ENDS