§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for then Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made by Government departments towards the target of improving energy efficiency by 20 per cent. in the nine years to 31 March 2000. [37355]
§ Angela EagleBy 31 March 1997, energy efficiency in Government Departments had improved by just over 15 per cent. since 1990–91.
Full details are given in tables, copies of which have been deposited in the Library. The overall improvement is shown in Table 4. The tables include revisions to figures for earlier years revealing better performance than previously reported. All results reported here relate to periods before this Administration took office. Energy management in individual Departments is a matter for those Departments and their Green Minister. The Government aim to be at the forefront of good practice to improve energy efficiency, and will be looking to ensure that momentum is maintained through the strengthened role of Green Ministers under the Chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment. We 530W are also working on the development of new performance indicators which will, for the first time, enable comparisons with independent standards of good practice across the economy.
The results for the former Department of the Environment in 1996–97 were affected by relocation and rationalisation of its accommodation in London and elsewhere. This resulted in the need to run a number of old and new buildings while changes took place. The Department's two new headquarters buildings at Eland House and Ashdown House will be fully occupied by the end of March 1998. Both include a number of energy efficient measures including a combined heat and power system and a displacement cooling system.