Written question asked by Lord Barker of Battle (Conservative) on Tuesday, 30 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 April 2010. It was answered by Ian Lucas (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 April 2010 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Departmental Video Conferencing

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 288W, whether his Department has made an estimate of the comparative (a) financial cost and (b) level of carbon dioxide emissions from (i) video conferencing and telepresence and (ii) travel to meetings.

Answer: At the time of considering the investment for video conferencing and telepresence facilities for the ex-DIUS Department, a cost benefit analysis was carried out which assessed potential benefits through the reduced need for travel between London and Sheffield, the then Department's two main staff locations. This estimated reduced travel for staff members to (up to) four meetings per day, is equivalent to savings of £440,000 per annum when the facilities are fully utilised. The impact on the carbon dioxide emissions directly related to this reduced travel, compared with the use of video conferencing and telepresence, was not directly factored into the original estimates.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 508 c1407W; 325666
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Departmental Video Conferencing
Monday, 22 February 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Video conferencing
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk