§ Mr. Kidney:To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will establish the Sustainable Buildings Task group; what its terms of reference will be; what its membership will be; and if he will make a statement. [140650]
§ Keith Hill:The Sustainable Buildings Task Group has been agreed. The Group will be co-chaired by Sir John Harman, Chairman of the Environment Agency and Victor Benjamin, Deputy Chairman of English Partnerships. The first meeting is planned for mid-December.
The Group has been tasked with identifying specific, cost-effective, improvements in the quality and environmental performance of buildings which industry can deliver in both the short and long term, together with further actions that Government could take to facilitate faster progress. The Group will consider scope for delivering higher standards of environmental performance of new and refurbished buildings in respect of water, energy, timber and other construction materials, and waste reduction.
The full membership of the Group comprises:
- Michael Ankers, Chief Executive, The Construction Products Association
- Julian Barwick, Joint Managing Director, Development Securities
- Sheila Button, Board Member, The Housing Corporation
- John Calcutt, Chief Executive, Crest Nicholson
- Ian Coull, Chairman Designate, The Sustainable Construction Task Force
- Robert Napier, Chief Executive, WWF-UK
- Paul Noon, co-chairman, Trade Union Sustainable Development Advisory Committee
- Jennie Price, Chief Executive, The Waste and Resources Action Programme
- Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive, The Energy Saving Trust
- Peter Studdert, Director of Environment and Planning, Cambridge city council
- Lynne Sullivan, Sustainability Director, Broadway Malyan
- Pamela Taylor, Chief Executive, Water UK
- Bryan Woodley, UK Timber Frame Association
- Terry Wyatt, President, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
- And senior officials from Defra, DTI, ODPM and OGC.