The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has criticised the government for the level of funding allocated to its new three-year low carbon building programme (LCBP). The £30 million programme, which will come into effect on April 1 2006, replaces the DTI’s clear skies and major PV demonstration programmes. But its grant pot is less than those of the two existing schemes. CIOB sustainability spokesman Dave Hampton said: “This funding is welcome but represents £13 million less than has been spent on the clear skies and major photovoltaics demonstration programmes since 2002. Why not add an extra zero or two on the budget; surely our children are worth it? Establishing a low carbon built infrastructure is likely to be the best investment UK plc could ever make. "With the public becoming more aware of the massive indirect or 'external' costs of fossil fuel dependence –both the cost of the oil and the costs of the CO2 emissions – the budget for schemes like this could justifiably be £3 billion, not £30 million.”