§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to assess the energy and environmental implications of the development of e-commerce and greater use of teleworking and video conferencing. [108686]
§ Ms HewittAs I announced last week, my Department, with the DETR, is supporting a year long inquiry into the environmental and social impacts of the development of e-commerce. This project, called "Digital Futures", will 313W be managed by Forum for the Future and has the support of business as well as Government. It will report in early 2001.
The Government continue to develop and keep under review their information about the nature of energy consumption and projections of future energy demand, taking into account a range of social and economic trends, including e-commerce, teleworking and video conferencing.