§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what procedures her Department has to ensure environmental appraisals are undertaken prior to(a) administrative and (b) policy decisions being made. [29055]
§ Dr. HowellsEnvironmental considerations are fully established as part of administrative decisions about the procurement of any goods for my Department, and are set out in the Department's procurement manual. My Department has also established an on-going Environmental Management System with the assistance of environmental consultants WSP, who scrutinised the environmental impact of the Department's procurement practices, use of energy and disposal of waste. The policy makers checklist, which includes reference to environmental and sustainable development considerations, is held on the Department's intranet to inform policy decisions.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials from her Department have attended the Environmental Appraisal and Integration into Policy training course run by the Civil Service College. [29057]
§ Dr. HowellsNone of my officials have attended the Environmental Appraisal and Integration into Policy training course run by the Civil Service College.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has to appraise the environmental implications of its Spending Review submission to the Treasury. [29056]
§ Dr. HowellsOfficials in my Department are aware that they have to produce a sustainable development report due at the end of February, as part of SR 2002.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the last occasion was on which she requested an environmental appraisal before making a policy decision. [29054]
§ Dr. HowellsPolicy makers in my Department are aware of the policy makers checklist which includes the recommendation to consider any environmental implications; however my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts has not had occasion to request a formal environmental appraisal since her appointment.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many environmental appraisals have been published by her Department since 1 January 2001; and if she will list the last four. [29053]
§ Dr. HowellsNo environmental appraisals have been published by my Department since 1 January 2001.