HC Deb 24 July 2002 vol 389 cc1148-9W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government will publish their Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. [73504]

Mr. Meacher

I am pleased to announce that, from today, the first three parts of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate are publicly available on the Government's Sustainable Development website. Copies of the website on floppy disk have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Part A of the Framework sets out the overarching commitments to which all Departments have signed up, and outlines the means by which progress towards these targets will be monitored and reported. It also sets a new target for Environmental Management Systems to be rolled out across the Estate. Parts B and C contain specific targets and guidance in the areas of Travel and Water consumption.

It is planned that the remaining parts of the Framework—covering Waste, Energy, Procurement, Estates Management, Biodiversity, and Social Impacts—will be rolled out over the coming year.

The online publication of the Framework is designed to facilitate the provision of the most up-to-date guidance, and examples of best practice, in relation to targets to all those involved in management of the Government Estate.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government will publish its response to the Environmental Audit Committee's third report of Session 2001–02, "UK Preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development". [73506]

Margaret Beckett

I am pleased to announce that I have today, laid in the Libraries of both Houses, copies of the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's third report of the 2001–2002 Session, "UK Preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development".

The Government's response sets our continued commitment to the achievement and promotion of sustainable development both internationally and at home. We have continued to play a significant role in preparations for the World summit on sustainable development taking place in Johannesburg between 26 August and 4 September 2002.

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