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Tories in Whitehall carbon pledge Tories in Whitehall carbon pledge
(about 2 hours later)
The Conservatives are to promise to cut Whitehall departments' carbon emissions by 10% within a year of gaining power.The Conservatives are to promise to cut Whitehall departments' carbon emissions by 10% within a year of gaining power.
Shadow chancellor George Osborne will argue that this policy could save up to £300m a year in energy bills.Shadow chancellor George Osborne will argue that this policy could save up to £300m a year in energy bills.
A Tory spokesman called this the "most ambitious commitment on UK government emissions ever made".
In a speech at Imperial College London, Mr Osborne will also promise to set up a "green investment bank" and to work with companies to tackle pollution.In a speech at Imperial College London, Mr Osborne will also promise to set up a "green investment bank" and to work with companies to tackle pollution.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband described Mr Osborne's comments as "greenwash".
But a Tory spokesman called it the "most ambitious commitment on UK government emissions ever made".
The shadow chancellor will say that Tesco, BT and B&Q have agreed to provide advice on how to reduce emissions.The shadow chancellor will say that Tesco, BT and B&Q have agreed to provide advice on how to reduce emissions.
'Transparency''Transparency'
Ahead of his speech, Mr Osborne told the BBC: "I'm going to cut energy budgets... and say [to Whitehall departments] 'Look, now you have to go and deliver the 10% cuts that we have promised.'"Ahead of his speech, Mr Osborne told the BBC: "I'm going to cut energy budgets... and say [to Whitehall departments] 'Look, now you have to go and deliver the 10% cuts that we have promised.'"
He also accused Labour of being "too negative" in its attitude to the environment, relying on taxation rather than incentives to change people's habits.He also accused Labour of being "too negative" in its attitude to the environment, relying on taxation rather than incentives to change people's habits.
In his speech Mr Osborne will say that a green investment bank will "back the bright ideas of the future in an area where Britain is now lagging behind".In his speech Mr Osborne will say that a green investment bank will "back the bright ideas of the future in an area where Britain is now lagging behind".
He will add that, as part of the party's "transparency agenda", the Conservatives will publish online, in "real time", the energy consumption of all Whitehall departments.He will add that, as part of the party's "transparency agenda", the Conservatives will publish online, in "real time", the energy consumption of all Whitehall departments.
A spokesman said this approach had been trialled by Windsor and Maidenhead Council and had led to an "immediate fall" in energy use of 15%.A spokesman said this approach had been trialled by Windsor and Maidenhead Council and had led to an "immediate fall" in energy use of 15%.
Mr Miliband criticised the Conservative's policy, saying it involved no new money.
"The truth is that the Tories have opposed Labour's extra public investment, including the £400m allocated at the time of the budget for new green industries," said the climate change secretary.
"So why should anyone believe a piece of greenwash from George Osborne?"
Mr Osborne's speech is one of a series on the environment by leading Conservatives, including shadow foreign secretary William Hague and shadow international development secretary Andrew Mitchell.Mr Osborne's speech is one of a series on the environment by leading Conservatives, including shadow foreign secretary William Hague and shadow international development secretary Andrew Mitchell.