§ Mr. HoramTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the activities of the Green Minister in the Department in financial year 2003–04. [185131]
§ Mr. LeslieLord Filkin is the Department for Constitutional Affairs Green Minister. In this role, Lord Filkin oversees work on sustainability within my Department and is also a member of the Ministerial Sub-Committee of Green Ministers.
My Department is committed to continue working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on sustainable development and on achieving sustainability in all aspects of its work. To that end, it continues to progress action and respond positively to targets published by DEFRA against the strands of the "Framework for Sustainable Development in the Government Estate". As Green Minister, Lord Filkin oversees this work.
My Department focuses its activities to meet targets set out by DEFRA. My Department has also continued with its programme of energy works, aimed at reducing emissions and energy use, and has set up electricity supplies so that it receives over 10 per cent. from renewable sources. A pilot of Environmental Management Systems has been established at key sites, and consideration will be given to extending this to other locations in the coming year. During the year my Department's Court Standards and Design Guide has been updated so that it better reflects our sustainability requirements by, for example, providing guidance on biodiversity and the need to aim for an "Excellent"