黑洞社区

Climate change minister Greg Barker has admitted the government鈥檚 own figures are 鈥渙ut of date鈥� in his first significant response to 黑洞社区鈥檚 revelation that loft insulation installations could fall more than 90% under the Green Deal.

In a posting on a public message board, Barker said the predictions, made by the government but revealed by 黑洞社区, that loft insulation installations will fall 93% and cavity wall installations will fall 70% were 鈥渁lready out-of-date鈥� and that the government 鈥渨ill be bringing forward further measures and incentives to support [the Green Deal鈥�.

The comments come as insulation industry figures held talks with Downing Street advisers in a move sources said showed the level of government concern over the success of the scheme.

Barker also said the government was looking carefully at measures which could help the insulation industry make the transition from the existing CERT regime, which subsidises loft and cavity wall insulation, to the system planned under the Green Deal, known as the Energy Company Obligation.

Transitional arrangements have been called for across the industry in responses to the government鈥檚 Green Deal consultation, which closed last week, including by the Confederation of British Industry, but previously the government has been unwilling to address the issue.

Barker said: 鈥淚 appreciate the insulation companies have genuine concerns and I will be paying close attention to the issues that they have raised to make sure we effectively bridge the transition to the new world of the Green Deal.

鈥淭he coalition is absolutely committed to transforming all of Britain鈥檚 homes over the next two decades and our priority is to start with the fuel poor. However most of their homes need to benefit from far more than just the basic loft and cavity wall measures that they were offered under CERT.鈥�

He said the 鈥渜uite conservative鈥� insulation industry needed to recognise it was 鈥渄ealing with a very radical government,鈥� and that 鈥渇ailure is not on the agenda鈥�.

Barker made the comments on the , after an editorial in his name was criticised by readers.

Andrew Warren, director of the Association for the Conservation of Energy, described the comments as 鈥渧ery encouraging鈥�.

He said: 鈥淭he confirmation that there will be further measures and incentives is very helpful. With meetings at Number 10 it feels that things are moving in government.鈥�

John Sinfield, managing director for manufacturer Knauf in northern Europe, said he was among representatives of the insulation industry to discuss the Green Deal with David Cameron鈥檚 special adviser on energy and climate change, Ben Moxham, last week.

He said he welcomed Barker鈥檚 comments about considering transitional arrangements, but said his description of the insulation industry as 鈥渃onservative鈥� was 鈥渘ot helpful at all鈥�.

He said: 鈥淚t is good he鈥檚 talking about transitional arrangements. It shows that even if his officials aren鈥檛 getting how important it is, he is.鈥�