§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw)The Government intend to publish, the fourth part of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate on Biodiversity at the end of July or early August. This will be available from the Sustainable Development in Government website. Copies of the website, on CD-Rom, will be paced in the Libraries of both Houses.
The Biodiversity section of the Framework breaks new ground as this is the first time that cross-Government targets have been set covering issues such as the condition of Government owned SSSIs, and a requirement for new building and refurbishment contracts to take account of biodiversity.
Our ongoing work on the Framework defines a set of cross-Government targets for Sustainable development, and outlines the mechanisms by which Departments will be expected to achieve them. These challenging targets give a clear indication of the Government's continued determination to take a lead in the practical implementation and achievement of Sustainable development.
The Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate can be viewed at www.sustainabledevelopment.gov.uk/sdig/improving/index.htm