§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she has met Green Ministers from other Government Departments since May. [15517]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 16 November 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment, in his role as chairman of ENV(G)—the ministerial sub-committee of Green Ministers—has met Green Ministers from other Departments once since May. The first meeting of ENV(G) took place on 25 October 2001. I have not met Ministers from other Departments specifically in their capacity as Green Ministers.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) plans and (b) targets she has agreed with Green Ministers for each of the next three years. [15518]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 16 November 2001]: The Green Ministers' work programme was set out in "Greening Government: the second annual report of 841W the Green Ministers Committee" published in November 2000. This report included a target for all Departments to contribute towards the Government estate target of a 1 per cent. per annum on-going reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.
Since publication of the report, Green Ministers have agreed cross-government targets for water usage and renewable energy as follows:
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 (fulltime 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.
All Departments will ensure that, by 31 March 2003, at least 5 per cent. of their electricity comes from renewable sources that are exempt from the climate change levy, or from self-generation, provided this does not entail excessive cost. This will rise to at least 10 per cent. supply from such sources by 31 March 2008, but will be reviewed after 31 March 2003 to take account of market conditions following the introduction of the renewables obligation. The review of 2003 will include consideration of increasing or bringing forward the target.
Further plans for Green Ministers are set out in the third annual report on greening government published today.