Clegg to create "green" internships - graduate jobs

The Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has outlined plans to create 800,000 "green" internships for graduates and young people.

The programme would boost people's experience and would form part of a £3 billion scheme to create environmental jobs nationwide.

Speaking at a press conference in Cardiff, Mr Clegg said he wanted to "serve the interests of the 100,000 square miles of the UK" rather than the City of London.

He also revealed proposals for a "90-day guarantee" for young people which would see them offered work, an apprenticeship or a place of training if they remained unemployed. He said he wanted to avoid them being left in a "state of despair".

The party plans to invest in wind energy, energy efficiency in public buildings and homes, and in bringing empty homes back into use through renovation.

He said: "We want to build a new economy which serves the interests of the 100,000 square miles of the UK, where we have growth that lasts."

The Liberal Democrats plan to create a one-year green job stimulus plan, for which £3.1 billion of cuts in government expenditure would be used to bring 200,000 empty properties back into use, and invest in new green energy infrastructure and public transport.

He said up to a million people could take part in an "eco-cashback" scheme to give people £400 towards energy-efficient home improvements and small energy generation projects.