The Green Pre-Budget Report - as it happens

12:20

All the pre Pre-Budget Report talk is about bashing the bankers, simmering class war, and cuts to public spending, but there are reports emerging that there could be a few interesting announcements for green businesses.

Reuters reckons we could have zero tax on electric company cars, while the BBC has reported there could be a scrappage scheme on domestic boilers similar to that offered for old cars.

Any such scheme would face the same criticism as the car scrappage scheme - that it is not the most cost effective way of cutting emissions. But I think I'm right in saying that there have been reports which conclude that encourgaing people to scrap old boilers for more efficient models, particularly CHP systems, would prove more effective at cutting emissions.

12:34

We're off - few minutes late after the usual Prime Minister's Questions pantomime.

Mentions investment in low carbon and digital technology right from the start - promises measures to increase investment.

12:37

Darling says oil prices remain volatile and financial problems in Dubai show how fragile the global recovery is. Argues cutting public spending could kill it off.

Aiming to set out "two competing visions" - Labour investment against Tory cuts.

12:45

Separate report in my email in-box suggesting announcement on carbon capture and storage (CCS) could be included in PBR speech.

12:49

Darling says UK will become less reliant on financial sector in the future (though it will remain important). Argues the recovery will be led more by exports and "investment in the key industries of the future" - low carbon and clean tech sectors are certainly amongst them.

12:55

Here it is. Darling says Copenhagen represents a "historic opportunity for a universial agreement" to tackle climate change. adds that the UK can be proud of its role leading the way by meeting its Kyoto targets and introducting carbon budgets.

Predicts that low carbon industries will "create the high paid, high skill jobs we need".

To help support the sector he says spending will be re-allocated to provide £160m to low carbon businesses through the Innovation Investment fund and the Carbon Trust. Adds that UK will pay a further £90m into the European Investment Bank's green 2020 fund.

Few details on the CCS, but says government will "double our commitment to finance four CCS demonstration plants".

He is onto smart meters now - says the roll out will be completed by 2020 and will help households cut energy bills.

Further help will be provided through an extension of the Warn Front insulation scheme that has helped 235,000 homes. Darling says an extra £200m will be made available from April to help 75,000 homes.

12:57

Here comes the boiler scrappage scheme.

Darling says old boilers cost households £200 a year and result in one tonne of carbon emissions. Following the "success" of the car scrappage scheme, he promises a similar scheme for 150,000 homes.

12:58

He also promises changes to Climate Change Levy and Company Car Tax to drive green behaviour. No details though.

Promises that the feed in tariff to be introduced next April will provide households with an average of £900 in income each year. Says that household income will be tax free.

Electric company cars will also be exempted from tax for five years and will receive 100 per cent Capital Allowance in the first year. There will also be tax breaks for electric vans.

13:00

Looks like the last bit of green news. Darling confirms that he has given the go-ahead to a number of new plans to electrify rail lines in Liverpool, Manchester and Preston, and promises that government will respond to plans for a High Speed Rail network early next year

13:08

He's on to taxing bankers and cutting spending, so it looks like that'ss the lot for greeen businesses.

Not much in the way of detail and given the state of the deficit the sums involved aren't huge, but encouraging clean technology took such a central role.

More news, analysis and response to follow.