At the same time the chancellor sought to reassure the markets about his commitment to tackling Britain's record deficit, with a further £9bn in savings on top of £11bn of efficiency measures by 2012-13 in December's pre-budget report.
It was subsequently found that the Scottish mutual NHS has outperformed the partially-marketised English NHS on the index indicator of health service quality, infant mortality and on key efficiency measures including waiting lists and patient satisfaction.
Not only are these consumers missing out on energy efficiency measures that would help keep their homes warm, they also face higher energy bills as a result.
The money was spent on energy efficiency measures in Peterborough's public buildings – its leisure buildings, admin offices, schools and car parks.
Britain invests around £35bn on defence every year but new figures out last night from the National Energy Action fuel poverty charity showed public spending on energy efficiency measures in England through the Green Deal Community Fund was £80m.
But energy analysts were concerned that the UK government – seen as dragging its feet on energy efficiency measures – could move in the opposite direction once no longer bound by EU legislation.
It also emerged that the £1,000 offer for new homebuyers to spend on energy efficiency measures has been designed to boost the government's flagging £1bn Green Deal scheme – which offers government-backed loans for home improvements of up to £10,000.
