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Written question asked by Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 20 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 January 2006. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Thursday, 26 January 2006 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Green Ministers

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months in relation to the environment and sustainable development.
Answer

As part of the Government's Sustainable Development Strategy ‘Securing the Future' I oversaw and provided the Foreword to my Department's Sustainable Development Action Plan, showing how the DTI is taking forward its commitments under the strategy.The Department is continuing to rationalise its main London HQ estate, reducing the space we occupy by about 30 per cent. by April 2006 compared to the position two years ago with corresponding reductions in all the building related environmental impacts.I have announced an Energy Review which will be looking at securing clean, affordable energy for the long-term.I have met representatives of a number of non-governmental organisations promoting policies for a better environment, including the Green Alliance.I have set out the Government's position on climate change and sustainable energy at a number of events looking at these issues, including the British Wind Energy Association Annual Conference and the Cleaner Safer Greener conference in Croydon in October, and the Renewable Energy in Europe conference in Brussels in November.I chaired a meeting of the EU Energy Council in December, which published Council Conclusions on climate change and sustainable energy.I have appointed seven new members to the Renewables Advisory Board which provides advice to Government on a wide range of renewable energy issues.I initiated a review on the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (known as WEEE) which requires producers to pay for treatment and recycling or recovery of all WEEE products.As Minister for Corporate Social Responsibility, I was also involved in and spoke at the UK Presidency Corporate Social Responsibility Conference which took place on 1 and 2 December.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
45506; 441 c2348W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Department of Trade and Industry Environment Government departments Sustainable development Green Ministers Committee
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk