It seems odd that Barker should think it鈥檚 understandable that he got it wrong, but that construction firms should have seen the lacklustre performance coming
There was a whiff of double-think in energy minister Greg Barker鈥檚 attempt this week to blame big construction firms, like Carillion, for not being able to make the Green Deal work, a minute after admitting that he had got forecasts for how the flagship scheme would operate 鈥渟pectacularly wrong鈥�.
It seems odd that Barker 鈥� who has been working on the scheme since day one and has the services of the government鈥檚 economists at his disposal 鈥� should think it鈥檚 understandable that he got it wrong, but that construction firms, who invested millions in preparing to drive the market following government forecasts, should have seen the lacklustre performance coming.
It鈥檚 fair to say smaller firms are more agile and maybe the big players have been slow to adjust. But if none of the UK鈥檚 big construction firms are active in the Green Deal marketplace in a year鈥檚 time it will be a shame because the taxpayer will lose out on them doing Green Deal work alongside other projects 鈥� usually the most cost effective option.
I wonder if the minister can see that coming.
Vern Pitt, senior reporter
A poll was attached to this story. It is now closed.
We asked: Is Greg Barker right to say that major firms must try harder to make the Green Deal profitable?
Here鈥檚 how you voted:
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