§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets were agreed at the meeting on 19 March of the Green Ministers Committee for(a) the purchase of renewable energy by Departments and (b) the reduction of water consumption by the Government estate. [156905]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Green Ministers Committee agreed in principle a target to purchase renewable electricity, the details of which would be pursued through ministerial correspondence. We also agreed the following water targets
For offices in metered buildings where the Department is sole occupier or is billed the water services charges: all Departments should achieve a maximum level of water consumption equivalent to 11 cubic metres per person (full-time equivalent staff) by 31 March 2002, and a further 30 per cent. reduction over the next two years, achieving a level of 7.7 cubic metres by 31 March 2004.For other metered buildings (e.g. laboratories, law courts and depots) where the Department is sole occupier or is billed the water services charges: all Departments should establish benchmarks under the Watermark Project for main categories of non-office buildings by 31 October 2001 with the aim of setting percentage targets for achieving initial reductions in Departments' water use within the following year (by 31 March 2002).