§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Green Ministers Committee last met; if he will publish the minutes of the last meeting of the Green Ministers Committee; and if he will publish the agenda for the next meeting of the Green Ministers Committee. [99201]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Green Ministers Committee met on 9 November. The minutes and agenda are not made public, but the House is advised of what happened at each meeting. I refer the hon. Member to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mrs. Gilroy), with regard to the outcome of the Committee's last meeting, which follows.
§ Mrs. GilroyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the last meeting of Green Ministers was; what was discussed; and if he will provide a list of Ministers who now sit on the Green Ministers Committee. [99516]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Green Ministers Committee met on 9 November. Baroness Young, of English Nature, gave a presentation about biodiversity and a lively discussion followed.
The Committee: agreed a checklist on biodiversity that Departments will use to consider what action they can take in this area; considered how to raise awareness in Government of sustainable development and the Greening Government Initiative; agreed to take an active role in next year's review of Government spending; reviewed the proposals the Committee should make on new energy targets for the Government estate from April 2000; and agreed to consider what strategic approach should be taken to the Committee's work at the next meeting.
Following recent changes in Ministerial responsibilities, the full list of Green Ministers is as follows:
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Department Minister Chairman Michael Meacher MP Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Elliott Morley MP Cabinet Office Graham Stringer MP Chancellor's Departments Stephen Timms MP Culture, Media and Sport Janet Anderson MP Defence Peter Kilfoyle MP Education and Employment Jacqueline Smith MP Environment, Transport and the Regions Beverley Hughes MP Foreign and Commonwealth Office Peter Hain MP
Department Minister Health Yvette Cooper MP Home Office Mike O'Brien MP International Development George Foulkes MP Law Officers' Ross Cranston MP Lord Chancellor's David Lock MP Social Security Hugh Bayley MP Trade and Industry Patricia Hewitt MP Northern Ireland Office The Lord Dubs