Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Peter Ainsworth (Conservative). It was answered on Thursday, 9 March 2006 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Question: We are very supportive of the right hon. Lady getting her own way, and hope that she is successful. We know that relations with the DTI are difficult, but how is she getting on with monitoring the accuracy of the data used by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor? Is she aware of research that shows that the ODPM's efforts to predict greenhouse gas emissions from new housing are completely flawed because they are based on data that are 25 years out of date? What discussions did she have with the Treasury about the accuracy of published figures on greenhouse gas emissions before the Chancellor aborted the operating and financial review? That decision has wasted millions of pounds, angered responsible business leaders and underlined yet again that, although she may be serious about climate change, the Government as a whole cannot be trusted on the issue.

Answer: With respect, that question muddles together several issues. It is true that the operating and financial review is not going ahead, but there remain requirements on companies to report on environmental standards under other legislation, which is partly why it was decided that there was no need to have two different sets of reasons for reporting. As for the validity of data from other Departments, I understand that the hon. Gentleman's party is now saying that it wants us all to be on the same page and move in the same direction on such issues. That is good, and I welcome that. However, the issue is not the data—whether they are as good as they should be or could be improved—but what we actually do about them. That is something on which I would like to see greater agreement.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 443 c929
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Air pollution Climate change Carbon dioxide Carbon Pollution control
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk