§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Prime Minister what consultations he has held with the business community in respect of the merits of environmental reporting. [135444]
§ The Prime MinisterOfficials and Ministers in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and Department of Trade and Industry regularly meet companies to discuss a range of environmental issues, including environmental reporting. The Government have also undertaken several initiatives in consultation with business to help companies improve their environmental performance and reporting.
In particular the DETR has consulted the top 350 UK businesses and others on detailed guidelines on how to measure and report on greenhouse gas emissions and waste. Similar guidance on water use will follow in December 2000.
To help a wider group of businesses to make a start on reporting, the DETR relaunched the "Making a Corporate Commitment" (MACC 2) campaign in June this year, after consultation with a range of businesses.
The Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment—which reports to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry—is currently looking at how to encourage businesses to make sustainability a key part of their decision making. ACBE has consulted with business and plans to publish advice to company board members on this issue. Reporting and communication with stakeholders will be included in this advice as part of the wider sustainability agenda.