§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many kilometres have been travelled on his Department's business in each of the last three years broken down by(a) foot, (b) bike, (c) bus, (d) train, (e) tram, (f) light-rail, (g) plane, (h) motorbike, (i) car, (j) taxi, (k) river-taxi and (l) other modes of transport; what plans and targets his Department has to reduce the kilometres travelled by private transport by his Department's employees; and if he will make a statement. [91019]
§ Mr. Chris Smith[holding answer 13 July 1999]: The information on business travel is not collected in the form requested and therefore cannot be provided. As published in the Integrated Transport White Paper in July 1998, the Government have set a target that all Government Department headquarters buildings occupied by Executive Agencies and Government Offices for the Regions should have green transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000.
We have completed a green transport plan covering all our headquarters and main buildings. Being located in central London, this Department is already well placed for staff commuting, with virtually all staff using public transport. Proposals therefore concentrate on discouraging business travel by private car by reviewing mileage rates, encouraging cycling, converting official vehicles to use cleaner fuels and reducing deliveries.