§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to phase out the use of peat compost in gardens(a) owned and (b) tended by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [110720]
§ Mr. BayleyThis Department issued a Greening Operations Policy Statement in May 1999, which sets out its aims and objectives for greening its operations. With the Department's estate having been outsourced to Trillium, its Chief Executive was a joint signatory to the Statement and its accompanying Improvement Programme.
Our policy on using materials in horticulture is to substitute slow renewables such as peat with organic waste products. Under the arrangements for delivery of the Improvement Programme Trillium has instructed its Service Partners to use peat substitutes whenever possible and DSS Estates monitors Trillium's performance on this and other targets in the Improvement Programme.