<h2>Hi</h2>

Government must free green bank from its fiscal straitjacket, says TUC

24 May 2011 09:38 AM

Commenting on the government's plans announced yesterday for a green investment bank, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'The government has removed some of the uncertainty around the green bank, which is to have legal backing and be given the power to borrow on the capital markets.

'But there is still a big funding gap to be bridged. Not allowing the bank to borrow until government debt targets have been met is more about ministers' desire to keep a lid on public spending than promoting good green economics.

'The government should free the new bank from its fiscal straitjacket to deliver green investment at the scale and pace required for a green economic recovery.'

NOTES TO EDITORS

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E:
media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk