A further £100 million has been pledged to fund home insulation in the government's pre-budget report.

Chancellor Alistair Darling announced the fund would be made available for households to install insulation and in the process create jobs for insulation installers.

The move was welcomed by housing charity, the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA).

Chief executive of the TCPA Gideon Amos said: "With escalating fuel bills this winter and the pressing need to improve our housing stock in the face of climate change the government is right to introduce measures designed to improve the energy efficiency of our homes."

The Energy Saving Trust recommends loft insulation should be 270 millimetres deep in order to reduce the amount of heat lost through the roof.

In total the Chancellor pledged £535 to the low carbon economy, including extending the Renewables Obligation financial incentive for renewable energy until 2037.

He also said he would raise airline passenger duty on long haul destinations.