GREEN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION MUST BE DRIVEN BY THE STATE - HUHNE

12.00.00am GMT Mon 5th Mar 2007

Commenting ahead of David Miliband's speech tonight in Cambridge, when he is expected to call for a green industrial revolution, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"Unlike past examples of major technological change such as the replacement of steam with the petrol engine, the change we now need is more costly and does not have direct personal benefits for consumers.

"That is why the missing element of David Miliband's vision is a strong government framework of green tax, regulation and subsidy to drive change forward.

"The green industrial revolution will not happen without a clear lead from the state and occasional compulsion."