Dr Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, secured the first question at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday in the House of Commons. 

Dr Whitehead used his opportunity to question the Prime Minister about whether funding for investment in low carbon technology which is essential to the UK meeting its carbon reduction targets will be cut over the next three years. He also asked Gordon Brown to “reflect on what the United Kingdom’s ability to meet its carbon budget commitments would be if such funding were cut by, say, 10 per cent” as Conservative Leader David Cameron has proposed. 

The Prime Minister responded:

“In the Budget we committed an additional £1.4 billion of support for the low-carbon economy. That would not have been possible if we had followed the advice of the Opposition to make cuts of 5 per cent this year. It would be impossible in the future if we went for the plans that have been suggested by the shadow Health Secretary to cut departmental expenditure by 10 per cent. We are for investing in the environment, not for using the money for inheritance tax cuts for the very few.”

Speaking from Westminster after Prime Minister’s Questions the Test MP said:

“I am delighted to have secured the first question today, which gave me a high-profile platform from which to raise the issue of green investment. I believe more firmly than ever that investment in low-carbon technologies will not only be essential to combating climate change, but can also provide a secure route out of recession by making energy cheaper, and creating jobs and industries both in the short term, and for the future.”

Dr Whitehead added:

“Amidst all the talk of future guarantees for spending budgets I was reassured to hear that the Prime Minister intends to honour the budget commitment of £1.4 bn investment in low-carbon initiatives and will not be heeding opposition demands for cuts in this absolutely crucial section of the economy.”