§ Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domerasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many of the major companies listed on the Stock Exchange have responded to the Prime Minister's challenge to report on environmental performance by the end of 2001. [HL1574]
§ Lord WhittyWe currently estimate that 56 of the top 100 companies are now producing substantive reports on their environmental performance and 12 more have indicated that they will report in future. Twenty-three of the next 250 currently report and 12 have indicated that they will do so in future. Around 10 per cent of other companies in the FTSE 350 mention environmental issues but do not report substantively on environmental performance.
To help more companies meet the challenge, the Government have added to their existing guidelines on reporting on greenhouse gases, waste and water use. In March FTSE 350 companies were consulted on new general guidelines describing the reporting process and the contents of an environmental report. The final version was launched in November and is now being sent to all FTSE 350 companies and other CBI members under cover of a joint letter from DEFRA and DTI Ministers and the CBI.
Copies of the guidelines and this letter are available in the Library of the House.