§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which she has responsibility, in each year since 1990. [1455]
§ Mr. Robin SquirePrior to their merger in July 1995, energy consumption was reported separately for the former Employment Department group and the former Department for Education. The percentage changes, as issued by the energy and environment advisory division of the Department of the Environment, for each of the two former Departments, are as follows:
Percentage changes in energy cost per unit area (£/sq m) over base year 1990–91 (corrected for fuel costs and weather) 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 Employment Department Group +1 +4 +2 Department for Education +20 +82 +95 The substantial increase in energy consumption in DFE beginning in reporting year 1991–92 resulted from the transfer of London-based staff from a naturally ventilated building to a new building with heating and air conditioning plant, with a smaller floor area. The baseline for the energy-saving exercise applied to the old building.
Raw data for 1994–95 have been reported by both former departments to the energy and environment advisory division. Corrected figures are not yet available.