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Whitehall's newest department has defended itself from claims it is beset by problems. Officials at the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) rejected allegations by the Liberal Democrats of staffing problems. In a wide-ranging attack, the party's climate change spokesman, Simon Hughes, claimed there had been a catalogue of problems, from staffing to organising its website. He said: ‘There have been internal problems with staffing from top to bottom. The DECC has had problems about deciding departmental boundaries – and they're still not entirely clear or logical.' A Whitehall insider has revealed a rift between officials committed to fighting climate change and energy experts led by Willy Rickett, who privatised the electricity industry. The department, led by Ed Miliband, is currently lobbying local authorities to take a key role in meeting targets of a 20% increase in energy efficiency and a 20% production of renewable energy. Climate change minister, Joan Ruddock, wants Beacon authorities to take the lead. She said: ‘While we in central government would never suggest that local authorities and their partners can control carbon emissions in their areas, there is enormous scope for influencing them. And leading by example has to be one of the most effective ways of doing this.' A DECC spokesman rejected the claims, adding the department was on track. ‘Establishing the new department is well advanced but it inevitably takes time to bring people together under one roof in a new location,' he said.

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WHITEHALL

New DECC rejects Lib Dem 'crisis' allegations

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