§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to discourage car use by his Department's employees. [51824]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonMeasures to reduce the environmental impact of transport activities will be included in the Green Transport Plans being prepared for each of the Department's key buildings. The Plans will be completed by end March 1999 and will be tailored to each location and its operational needs.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what activities his Green Minister has undertaken relating to his environmental responsibilities since being appointed. [51828]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAs Green Minister for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions I have attended all three meetings of Green Ministers; held a discussion with my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment (in his role as Chair of Green Ministers) to review activity on greening Government with DETR; spoken at one of the regional seminars to launchOpportunities for Change, the Government's consultation on a new sustainable development strategy; issued guidance on Green Transport Plans to Green Ministers in all Departments; issued the Government's Policy Guidance on Environmental Appraisal to DETR staff; and held discussions with key DETR staff to consider systems for environmental appraisal and consider the Department's strategy for greening its operations.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of his Department's waste is recycled at present; and what targets he has set for the future. [51826]
§ Angela EagleMy Department is conducting a survey of its property managers to find out the percentage of waste recycled in 1997–98 and to agree a target to increase that percentage in future years.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the current energy consumption is of his Department; what targets have been set to reduce this level; and what plans there are for including energy efficiency performance figures in his Department's annual report. [51825]
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§ Angela EagleThe latest available energy consumption figures available are for 1996–97. The energy consumption of the then constituent parts of DETR totalled 144,758,340 kWh. My department is working towards achieving government targets described in the Model Policy Statement for Greening Government Operations, and publishing its achievements in its annual report.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what efforts he has made to raise awareness of environmental and sustainable issues within his Department; and if specific training will be made available to staff where appropriate. [51827]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Government consultation paper,Opportunities for Change, was put on the Department's internal "intranet"; copies of the accompanying leaflet were circulated to all staff and publicised in the Department's in-house magazine Grassroutes. The Government Offices for the Regions (GORs) organised a programme of regional events, and are now working on the revised strategy. Policy Guidance on environmental appraisal was distributed widely within the Department, its Agencies, NDPBs and GORs in April and placed on the DETR intranet. We are planning further initiatives to foster staff awareness, building on the on-the-job training for staff who work on environmental policy issues, Work of the Department induction courses for staff and internal seminars for staff on the outcome of Kyoto and sustainable development strategy consultation.