TORY ministers are “moving too slowly” towards green transition and economic targets, a new report by independent experts warned today.

The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) said the government needed to develop “fewer, bigger and better-targeted initiatives” to meet long-term climate and economic goals.

The body blasted Downing Street for “negligible advances in improving household energy efficiency, installing low-carbon heating solutions and securing sustainable water supply and demand,” warning that ministers were “off track to meet ambitions in a range of areas.”

For example, a pledge to install at least 600,000 low-carbon heat pumps each year by 2028 seems unlikely to be met, the commission said, with only 55,000 fitted in 2021, compared with 1.5 million gas boilers.

“Similarly, the government expects 300,000 public electric vehicle charge points to be in place by 2030, but only 37,000 are currently installed,” it added.

The report also noted that progress towards major infrastructure objectives, such as the recently delayed HS2 rail project, is “stuttering when the need for acceleration has heightened.”

The body advised a “greater devolution of funding and decision-making and a move away from competitive bidding processes.”