§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [4535]
658WLetter from Tim Holt to Ms Dawn Primarolo, dated 21 November 1996:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the investment income and the earned income in 1979–80 and 1995–96 for each income decile group.The figures requested are shown in the attached table. The figures are derived from the analysis of the effects of taxes and benefits on household income which is based on the Family Expenditure Survey (FES). No figures are available for 1979–80 as the FES was on a calender year basis at that time. The latest information available is for the fiscal year 1994–95. The figures show the mean incomes at current prices for decile groups of households ranked by equivalised disposable income. The figures are not strictly comparable over time because of changes in classification of income and because of changes in the FES.
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe Welsh Office aims to reduce the impact of its own activities on the environment and to improve the management of its own resources. Energy surveying and auditing is a well established feature of the Department's green housekeeping strategy. All Welsh Office properties have been surveyed and the resulting recommendations implemented. Improvements include draughtproofing and thermal insulation; modifications to air conditioning and heating controls; new energy efficient lighting and automatic lighting control systems.
The Welsh Office has also examined a wide range of its other domestic activity and resulting annual action plans have included measures to reduce environmental effects in the key areas of water conservation; waste management; greener vehicles; ozone-depleting substances; efficient paper use and through raising staff awareness.
As with other Departments, the Welsh Office ensures that its policies and programmes take proper account of environmental concerns in accordance with the 1990 Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" and "Sustainable Development: the UK Strategy" published in 1994. My right hon. Friend is the Department's green Minister and the Welsh Office is contributing to the booklet of case studies which green Ministers intend to publish in the new year showing good examples of environmental appraisal.
The Department published a booklet in September 1994 entitled "Selling to the Welsh Office - A Green Guide for suppliers of Goods and Services to the Welsh Office" 659W which is sent with all invitations to tender. Potential suppliers are asked what action they are taking to obtain BS7750.
The Welsh Office actively encourages environmental management and auditing more widely. It promotes the EC eco-management and audit scheme—EMAS—and the availability of grant aid for small companies under the SCEEMAS scheme. In March, my right hon. Friend launched the business and the environment campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and of the commercial advantages of good environmental management including the opportunities for financial savings; promote the increased take-up of environmental services; and encourage firms to undertake best practice in environmental management. As part of the campaign, the Welsh Office is working closely with Arena Network, a non-profit making organisation set up to raise business awareness and to provide advice to companies on environmental issues.
Arena now has around 300 Welsh member companies and, with Welsh Office support, is developing a portfolio of training activities and project work with local business groups. The Welsh Office is also collaborating with Arena, the environmental technology support unit, the environmental technology best practice programme and other organisations on the provision of environmental best practice seminars and workshops for business.
The Welsh Office also promotes improved efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing by supporting the River Dee waste minimisation project which involves 14 companies auditing their use of energy, water and materials and identifying ways of minimising waste generation. The project was launched in May 1995 and has already identified areas for substantial savings.