The CBI's Director-General, has criticised Government's unexpected decision last week to cut solar feed-in tariffs (FITs) - even before the consultation period has ended - "the latest in a string of Government own goals".

 Mr Cridland  said addressing the CBI East Midlands annual dinner.

"Take the low-carbon sector, which has been growing across the world throughout the recession. We need to expand our share.

"But last week the government announced a dramatic cut in the solar feed-in tariff. A reduction was already on the cards from April 1, but this will now come in by mid-December - before the consultation has even ended.

"This is the latest in a string of government own goals, following the Carbon Reduction Commitment becoming a pure revenue-raiser and the North Sea oil and gas tax.

"As you all know, moving the goal  posts  doesn't just destroy projects and jobs, it creates a mood of uncertainty that puts off investors and they wonder what's coming next.

"Some companies have invested heavily in solar photovoltaic systems, and in the supply chains needed to install them. That commitment has been undermined by the feed-in tariff decision - and so industry trust and confidence in the government has evaporated. This bodes poorly for investment in future initiatives.

"A new industrial policy needs to recognise the real-time costs of these decisions, and should set out a clear path that investors understand and can believe in."