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| Electric car chargers get £37m boost | Electric car chargers get £37m boost |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government has announced £37m of funding designed to improve the provision of charging points for electric vehicles in England. | The government has announced £37m of funding designed to improve the provision of charging points for electric vehicles in England. |
| Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said ministers were committed to ensuring that the UK was a "world leader in the electric car industry". | Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said ministers were committed to ensuring that the UK was a "world leader in the electric car industry". |
| The funding will cover 75% of the cost of installing points, with residents or councils providing the rest. | The funding will cover 75% of the cost of installing points, with residents or councils providing the rest. |
| Ministers also want more points to be set up at railway stations. | Ministers also want more points to be set up at railway stations. |
| A report by the Commons Transport Select Committee in September last year questioned whether government subsidies to encourage people to drive electric cars were a good use of public money. | A report by the Commons Transport Select Committee in September last year questioned whether government subsidies to encourage people to drive electric cars were a good use of public money. |
| They had benefited only a "handful of motorists", MPs said, and were being used to help more affluent households with the cost of a second car. | They had benefited only a "handful of motorists", MPs said, and were being used to help more affluent households with the cost of a second car. |
| 'Appropriate' | 'Appropriate' |
| However, during a visit to Sunderland Mr McLoughlin said: "Plug-in vehicles can help the consumer by offering a good driving experience and low running costs. They can help the environment by cutting pollution. | |
| "And most importantly of all, they can help the British economy by creating skilled manufacturing jobs in a market that is bound to get bigger." | "And most importantly of all, they can help the British economy by creating skilled manufacturing jobs in a market that is bound to get bigger." |
| The Department for Transport estimates that it costs about £10,000 to install a power point capable of charging two vehicles at once in a residential street. | The Department for Transport estimates that it costs about £10,000 to install a power point capable of charging two vehicles at once in a residential street. |
| People who want these to be installed near their homes can either fund the remaining £2,500 themselves or lobby their local authority to step in. | People who want these to be installed near their homes can either fund the remaining £2,500 themselves or lobby their local authority to step in. |
| Ministers also want to encourage train operators to install new charging points at railway stations, and have offered the same 75% incentive. | Ministers also want to encourage train operators to install new charging points at railway stations, and have offered the same 75% incentive. |
| And local authorities wanting to invest in rapid charging points, which cost about £45,000 to install and make it easier for drivers of electric vehicles to undertake longer journeys, will also be able to apply to central government for the same proportion of funding. | And local authorities wanting to invest in rapid charging points, which cost about £45,000 to install and make it easier for drivers of electric vehicles to undertake longer journeys, will also be able to apply to central government for the same proportion of funding. |
| "We believe that 75% is the appropriate level to offer to incentivise vehicle owners and local authorities to invest," a Department for Transport spokesman said. | "We believe that 75% is the appropriate level to offer to incentivise vehicle owners and local authorities to invest," a Department for Transport spokesman said. |
| Business Minister Michael Fallon added: "There are huge business opportunities so we're committed to ensuring the UK leads the way globally for low-carbon vehicles." | Business Minister Michael Fallon added: "There are huge business opportunities so we're committed to ensuring the UK leads the way globally for low-carbon vehicles." |