§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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 (1) 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. [91025]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 13 July 1999]: The information on business travel is not collected in the form requested. As published in the Integrated Transport White Paper in July 1998, the Government have set a target that all Government Department headquarters buildings and main 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.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer's departments have already made some significant progress, for example:
The Inland Revenue have put in place Green Transport Plans at six of their sites and are now working on the roll-out of a further 300 plans by 31 March 2000, in line with the White Paper target. The plans include measures to reduce both business and commuter travel and promote alternative travel arrangements. Environmental considerations are also being addressed by adopting a number of initiatives, including:
downsizing the cc of the Pool and Private Use Scheme car fleet;piloting and promoting the use of bi-fuelled vehicles (LPG/Petrol);with DSS, a joint tender programme to supply and install bunkered Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) taken on sites throughout the UK to encourage and support the use of this alternative fuel;386Wan appraisal of the use of electric cars;providing defensive driver training which has a strong emphasis on better environmental driving techniques for 450 (50 per cent.) of our PUS drivers.Customs and Excise have established Local Transport Plans in its headquarters sites. All other key sites will have established plans by the end of March 2000. Each plan forms the basis of a continuing programme of improvement to meet both the Government's commitments and to obtain the maximum benefits from local knowledge and experience, and covers:
- strategic issues;
- commuting;
- business travel;
- commercial/suppliers;
- fleet.
The plans include measures to promote car sharing, public transport use, cycling and other solutions to reduce business travel (such as video conferencing) and raise awareness of the environmental and business issues associated with travel. Suppliers and contractors are required to support these plans.
HM Treasury introduced a Green Transport Plan in March 1999 covering its two buildings. The plans include, among other things, measures to:
set up a Bicycle User Group (BUG);review travel and subsistence policy;ensure all cars supplied under the Government Car and Despatch Agency contract are converted to run on alternative fuels by February 2000;reduce car parking spaces to the standards laid down by Strategic Guidance for London Planning Authorities for Central London.The National Savings Agency has completed a Green Transport Plan. The plan includes measures to minimise the environmental impact of travel on official business as well as facilitating employee use of public transport.
The Royal Mint has completed Green Transport Plans covering all key buildings in line with the targets set out in the White Paper. The plans include measures to reduce single-occupancy car use by employees.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has completed Green Transport Plans covering all its main buildings, both in London and nationwide, in line with targets set out in the White Paper. The plans include measures to positively encourage the use of public transport and to reduce single occupancy car use by employees for business.