‘A poorly designed support package’ – our reaction to autumn statement

Commenting on today’s autumn statement, Tom Fyans, interim CEO of CPRE, the countryside charity, said:

‘The Chancellor’s £6bn for energy efficiency improvements is hugely welcome and will help people who have to choose between heating and eating. However, we need this vital work to begin today so we’re calling for the Treasury to make this money available now rather than in 2025, which is far too late.

‘What’s more, the millions of vulnerable households living in rural communities who are reliant on heating oil, which is not covered by the energy price cap, will be feel left behind and overlooked by the Chancellor today. Rural homes are particularly old and leaky so people living in rural areas have been really hard hit by the energy crisis. The Chancellor should have extended the energy price cap to the six million rural households reliant on heating oil to keep their houses warm and we’re urging a rethink.

‘The Chancellor also missed an open goal when it comes to unleashing the potential of rooftop solar. Changes to planning policy could turbocharge the rollout of solar energy and help reduce reliance on gas at little or no cost to the public purse.

‘This autumn statement is a poorly designed support package with loopholes that leaves the countryside, and those who live in it, behind.’