§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the ways in which his Department has(a) demonstrated by example and (b) promoted externally, the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing; and if he will make a statement. [4527]
§ Mr. HowardThe Home Office takes its responsibilities to the environment seriously, and has been represented at each of the green Ministers meetings.
The policies and programmes of my Department have been assessed as having low direct environmental sensitivity. Thus, the environmental audits undertaken by the Home Office have concentrated on estate management issues where scope for green housekeeping efficiencies has been sought. All local property centres are asked to conduct an annual green housekeeping audit. A programme of energy surveys has been run in response to the target set by the Department of the Environment to reduce energy consumption by 15 per cent. in the period from 1990 to 1995. Notable successes were at the police training centres at Bruche and Cwmbran and at the police scientific development branch premises in Langhurst and Sandridge, where implementing the recommendations of the reviews produced falls in energy consumption of between 16.8 per cent. and 22.9 per cent. over the five years. Where appropriate, the Department adopts the Building Research Establishment environmental 616W assessment method as a means of enhancing the environmental performance of new offices and those undergoing major refurbishment.