HC Deb 10 July 1998 vol 315 c672W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures she is taking to discourage car use on departmental business by his Department's employees. [50045]

Mr. Denham

Departmental instructions permit the use of cars only when all other forms of transport have been considered and they deliver the best value for money solution.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current annual energy consumption of her Department; what targets have been set to reduce this level; and what plans she has to include energy efficiency performance figures in her Department's annual report. [50029]

Mr. Denham

The energy consumption for the Department in 1996–97 was 574 million kWh. Figures for 1997–98 will be finalised in September.

Following the PRIME initiative, which transferred the ownership of the Department's estate on 1 April 1998, all building related services are now provided to the Department by the private sector consortium PPM. These services include energy management.

PPM have appointed a National Utilities Efficiency Manager. They are working with the Department to devise initiatives, and to implement innovative techniques, to optimise energy consumption and are acting on our behalf to procure energy supplies cost effectively. PPM are expected to invest in spend to save projects and are currently re-tendering electricity contracts to maximise the opportunities available from the expanded and deregulated utilities market. Consumption targets are to be agreed with the Department and both sides will be incentivised to make savings by reducing energy usage. All energy consumption will be monitored and site specific monthly, quarterly and annual reports will help to identify trends and good practice.

The Social Security Departmental Report 1998–99, Cm 3913, includes a section on Environmental Issues, which details the Department's contribution to the programme to reduce government impact on the environment. The section includes the results of a six-month pilot to introduce an in-line fuel catalyst to the Department's fleet of 3,500 vehicles. The results showed improvements of more than 60 per cent. overall in toxic emissions and a 7 per cent. increase in miles per gallon due to the more efficient combustion.

We will consider including further details of energy efficiency initiatives and performance in future Reports.