Written question asked by Brian Jenkins (Labour) on Friday, 11 January 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 January 2008. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Thursday, 21 February 2008 on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Departmental Email

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will take steps to reduce the number of hard copies of emails printed by officials in his Department.

Answer: I am conscious of the need to minimise the printing of emails. Staff in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills are generally aware of, and anxious to support, sustainability issues. We have recently reduced the number of printers in the Department, we encourage double-sided printing, and we have also issued all staff with encrypted laptops, which they are encouraged to use flexibly, for example, by taking them to meetings to reduce the need to print off hard copies of agendas or minutes.

Secondary information