Mr. Anthony D. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what mechanism the Government plan to put in place to require publicly funded institutions to introduce formal environmental management policies. [153518]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government have already put mechanisms in place for requiring Government Departments to establish formal environmental management policies. Details are given in the second annual report of the Green Ministers' Committee, which I chair, with chapter 5 covering the progress that has been made in establishing environmental management systems on the Government estate. A copy is on my Department's website. The Government have not so far put mechanisms in place for requiring local authorities to establish environmental management systems, though we have provided encouragement and are pleased that a number of local authorities have established environmental management systems certified to ISO 14001 and EMAS.