§ Sir Cranley OnslowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to encourage other Government Departments to economise in the use of fuel; and with what results.
§ Mr. AtkinsEnergy management in individual Government Departments is a matter for the Ministers responsible for those Departments. My Department provides information on good practice and monitors the progress of Departments towards the target of improving energy efficiency by 15 per cent. over the five years to 1995–96. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State also reviews progress at meetings of Green Ministers, which he chairs. Results for 1992–93 were given in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 20 October 1993,Official Report, columns 256–59, and updated energy expenditure information was provided in answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 20 January 1994, Official Report, columns 829–30.
Advice and guidance is made available to all Departments through regular meetings and correspondence and through technical literature, videos and seminars. Current initiatives include encouraging Departments to take advantage of opportunities for using contract energy management and to examine the scope for combined heat and power.