§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the presence of(a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16309]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordRegisters recording the presence and treatment of asbestos, and any other hazardous materials, are maintained in the Department of the Environment's buildings. Assessments are carried out in accordance with current regulations.
Our procurement policy requires that no products containing ozone-depleting substances are purchased, and this was one of the aims of the contracts let in relation to the Department's two new headquarters buildings. Both buildings have been designed to achieve the highest standards in environmental performance; Eland house was recently awarded a very good BREEAM—Building 217W Research Establishment environmental assessment method—rating, and Ashdown house is also expected to achieve a similar rating in due course.