HC Deb 17 January 2002 vol 378 c462W
Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work completed by the Green Minister with his Department since the general election. [27506]

Angela Eagle

[holding answer 16 January 2002]: The Department has continued to work to contribute towards the Government's sustainable development agenda. As the Green Minister, I have held meetings with lead officials to review progress. The main developments are as follows:

  1. (i) 13 key sites including all central London headquarters buildings now use 100 per cent. green electricity, with a further two sites using a 10 per cent. green electricity supply.
  2. (ii) SR 2002 bids are required to state which sustainable development indicators their bids will have an impact on.
  3. (iii) An excellent Buildings Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) rating was achieved at the Harmondsworth Detention Management Unit.
  4. (iv) Waste minimisation schemes will be introduced in all key core Home Office buildings by the end of March 2002.
  5. (v) Work is under way on the methodology to be used in energy efficiency benchmarking of prisons, college sites and laboratories on the HO estate.
  6. (vi) The Prison Service published its first annual environmental report in July 2001 and "Buying Green", a guide to green purchasing.
  7. (vii) A Prison Service Greening Conference in October 2001 was attended by around 3(X) delegates.
  8. (viii) The Prison Service has spent over £600 million on funding green initiatives covering such as energy efficiency, waste management, environmental management systems and biodiversity.