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Lord Chancellors Dept

Answer

Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what green travel plans are in place for (a) the Official Solicitor's Office, (b) the Council on Tribunals, (c) the Statutory Publications Office, (d) the Judge Advocate-General's Office, (e) the staff employed on Domestic Legal Services in her Department and (f) the Legal Services Commission. [33665] Ms Rosie Winterton: I apologise for the delay in responding which was due to an administrative oversight. The Lord Chancellor's Department introduced a central green travel plan in March 1999 in respect of its main headquarters sites. There are a number of ways in which we promote greener transport, such as making interest free loans available for staff to purchase public transport season tickets and bicycles, making changes to our motor mileage rates to discourage the use of large engine vehicles, and incorporating a requirement to demonstrate vehicle journey planning and a well-maintained fleet within delivery contracts. These policies cover staff working in the Official Solicitor's Office; the Council on Tribunals; the Statutory Publications Office; and the Judge Advocate General's Office. (e) It is not clear which organisation is envisaged in the term "Domestic Legal Services". (f) The Legal Services Commission adopted an environmental strategy and policy statement in June 2001. The Commission is committed to reducing any harmful impact it may have on the environment, and in all its policy making and operational activities it has regard to sound environmental practices. It has in place a bicycle loan scheme, which provides a salary advance to full-time permanent staff in order to purchase cycle equipment and a bicycle to travel to work and/or use for business travel. Staff using a bicycle for company business may claim 20 pence per mile. The Commission also has a season ticket loan scheme to encourage staff to make use of public transport.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

386 c965W; 33665

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Environment protection Government departments Legal Services Commission Lord Chancellor's Department Transport Judge Advocate General Official Solicitor and Public Trustee Office Council on Tribunals Statutory Publications Office

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk