§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the ways in which her Department has(a) demonstrated by example and (b) promoted externally, the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing; and if she will make a statement. [4542]
§ Mr. Robin SquireWe are committed to carrying out the Department's work efficiently, with minimal negative environmental impact. We have undertaken energy audits, and included environmental objectives in the Department's business plan. Our energy consumption continues to fall in line with Government policy. For example, following the connection of the Department's Moorfoot building to the Sheffield combined heat and power station in 1995, 95 per cent. of Moorfoot's heat now comes from a green source.
In October, I launched the schools environmental assessment method which encourages and enables schools to evaluate their environmental impact, and which also includes revised energy targets for new school buildings.