§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many combined heat and power projects have been installed in NHS properties since 1997. [7615]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 15 October 2001]: The information requested is not collected centrally.
The Department it supports the Government's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as detailed in the current climate change programme, and in the Government's target for 10,000 megawatts of electricity (Mwe) installed combined heat and power (CHP) by the year 2010. Installing CHP in National Health Service premises is an effective means of achieving the energy/carbon efficiencies required as part of this agenda for action.
Since 1990 the NHS has been working towards energy efficiency savings and successfully achieved the Government's previous target of a 20 per cent. reduction in energy use from 1990 to 2000. The new target is a 15 per cent. energy, 0.15 million tonnes carbon efficiency saving from a base year of March 2000 to March 2010. Ways of meeting this target will continue to include the introduction, where appropriate, of CHP plant.