§ Mr. HoramTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the activities of the Green Minister in the Department in financial year 2003–04. [185133]
§ Phil HopeAs the Green Minister in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, I am a member of ENV, the Cabinet Committee on the Environment, and ENV(G), the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers. I have also considered issues surrounding the ad hoc Ministerial Group on Climate Change and the Sustainable Building Task Group. However, it has been established practice under successive governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.
I am a member of the Sustainable Development Task Force, and have attended its regular meetings. In February, I presented a paper, "Sustainable Communities", to the task force, which set out the many ways in which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's overarching aim of creating sustainable communities contributes to sustainable development.
I also represent the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the Ministerial Group for the Implementation of the Energy White Paper. I presented a paper to this group in October on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's contribution to this agenda, including energy efficiency and renewable energy.
I am also the lead Minister on the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Bill.