Ed Miliband comments on Government's Energy White Paper

"Britain faces the enormous challenge of decarbonising our energy system. We have been waiting years for this energy White Paper and what we need and expect is a proper long-term plan. But so far the Government appears to be simply kicking big decisions into touch.

"Nuclear has a role to play in the energy mix going forward and could create jobs, but there is no definitive statement today one way or the other on financing, costs or an overall plan.

"On the crucial issue of upgrading and changing the way we heat our homes there appears again to be no long-term plan, just a reheating of an announcement that's already been made.

"We will look in detail at the White Paper but the test is whether the reality matches the Government's rhetoric, and whether the scale of the task is reflected in what is published. So far it does not appear to meet the task."