HC Deb 11 March 2003 vol 401 c143W
Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of energy wasted by street lighting directed above the horizontal. [101184]

Mr. Jamieson

[holding answer 6 March 2003]: I have been asked to reply.

My Department has no central figures of the lighting characteristics of the many types of street lighting units in use and so cannot readily estimate the energy cost of light directed above the horizontal. However, the Department does advise the use of lighting units which restrict the amount of light directed above the horizontal to reduce light pollution.

Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to encourage the use of downward directed lighting and to improve the visibility of the night sky. [101185]

Alun Michael

This is not matter for this Department but one for the office of my colleague the Deputy Prime Minister.