Blast for SNP's energy efficiency 'failure'

LABOUR'S Sarah Boyack has called for "greater urgency" from the Scottish Government in improving energy efficiency following the findings of a report by Audit Scotland.

The report said more than seven out of ten large public sector buildings in Scotland had a poor energy efficiency rating. It also found there had been a one per cent increase in energy use in the public sector between 2006/7 and 2008/9, and a 20 per cent increase in costs to 322 million.

Ms Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central and Labour's environment spokeswoman, said: "This report again exposes the SNP's bluster when it comes to tackling climate change. The Scottish Government over the past three and a half years has failed to lead the public sector in the right direction to cut energy use - instead of going down it's going up.

"Proper scrutiny of the public sector's energy use is also under threat after Alex Salmond's government made the decision to axe the Sustainable Development Commission. The SNP's green legacy is in danger of going up in smoke."