§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions have been taken since the appointment of a Minister in his Department to consider the environmental implications of his Department's policies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerMy Department has had close regard to the commitments made in the Environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance", since its publication in September, as they apply to relevant policies and practices. For example, the energy management group is actively pursuing a wide range of initiatives on the Home Office estate to achieve and, we hope, exceed the 15 per cent. energy savings target over the next five years. Trials are presently being conducted into the use of waste-derived fuel. We intend also to follow the guidance in the forthcoming "Environmental Action Guide". Crime prevention schemes in our safer cities programme have included some local environmental improvement work; some neighbourhood watch schemes involve local communities in litter clearance and graffiti removal. My Department was also closely involved in the production of the noise review working party report, published in October 1990.