To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to build an environmentally sustainable prison.

My Lords, we aim for increasingly sustainable prisons within budgetary constraints, focusing on energy, emissions, water, waste and recycling. Energy consumption per prisoner place is down 29 per cent from 1999 levels, with 23 per cent of electricity now obtained from renewable sources. Prisons are now recycling 46 per cent of waste generated. NOMS is working with constructors to move towards the Government's goal of constructing new public sector buildings which emit zero carbon by 2018.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that encouraging Answer and congratulate the National Offender Management Service on some of the initiatives that have been taken in sustainable living. Does the Minister recognise not only the economic benefit in creating sustainable prisons but the restorative potential in engaging prisoners in sustainable living?

My Lords, the House well knows that the right reverend Prelate is the Bishop for prisons and shows a great interest not only in that topic but, of course, in the environment generally. I strongly agree with him that the restorative element of the sustainable work that is going on in prisons is very important. For example, in Wetherby young offender institution, next to the waste unit where many of its young offenders are working, there are classrooms for the provision of education and training. It is clear already that work in waste management in prisons can lead to those who are let out of prison finding employment in that area. As prisons become more sustainable there is no question that that will, I hope, prevent reoffending.

My Lords, does a sustainable prison include the growing of vegetables and flowers, farming, the rearing of pigs, which provide bacon and pork to prisoners, and the provision of future careers for prisoners on leaving prison? I deeply regret that these facilities have, thus far, been removed.

My Lords, the answer is yes. The biodiversity action plan for the prison estate, which is the second largest built and non-built government estate, is being taken forward with various partners which are very active indeed in this field. NOMS was the first government service to implement the biodiversity action reporting system, which monitors all the actions and targets on species and habitats. The noble Baroness is asking particularly about prisoners making their own food and training for prisoners. I do not know the specific answers, or whether such provision has declined or advanced in recent years, but it is certainly worth considering.

While strongly endorsing the concerns of the right reverend Prelate, does my noble friend agree that in the context of the excellent lead given by the Government on environmental matters, all government buildings, whatever and wherever they are, should be environmentally sustainable?

Of course I agree with that, and we are working to achieve a carbon-neutral government estate by 2030. That is a long way off, but there is a great deal still to be done. The Ministry of Justice's sustainable development action plan focuses on commissioning energy-efficient new-builds and operating existing buildings-noble Lords will know that the prison estate was not necessarily built with environmental considerations in mind-in a sustainable manner, whereby the ministry's carbon footprint will be reduced.

My Lords, perhaps I may ask a question which is not a thousand miles from the original Question of the right reverend Prelate. What estimate have the Government made of the first available date upon which it is expected that the first prisoner will enter the first of the sub-Titan prisons to be built?

My Lords, I am sorry that I do not have the answer to that question immediately to hand. This Question is about prisons and sustainability, but of course I will write to the noble Lord with the latest estimate.

My Lords, I am sure that the whole House is tremendously excited by the biodiversity action plan in Her Majesty's prisons. How much does it cost, how many people are employed in it, and what has been its greatest achievement so far?

I am delighted to excite the noble Lord by what I have said. I cannot give him specific figures on costs of employment, but I gently remind him that the question of employment in prisons is not very difficult.

On sustainability, I have asked endless questions-all of them hostile-of this and the predecessor Government about prisons, and for the first time ever I shall ask a sycophantic question. Is my noble friend aware of how delighted I am at his replies to everybody, except the noble Lord, Lord Elystan-Morgan, who I am afraid is looking a little sad?

I am even more worried that I usually am when the noble Lord is being hostile.

In principle, does the Minister agree that in terms of sustainability, rather than imprisoning more and more offenders, it would be better to consider the demonstrably cheaper and more effective approach of not using prison? There is the Northern Ireland approach of restorative justice, where victims have 80 per cent rates of satisfaction and reoffending has decreased to below 30 per cent. Is that not a more sensible and sustainable approach?

There is undoubtedly a place for restorative justice, and for non-custodial sentences in appropriate cases. However, I am afraid that as long as people behave as badly as some do, there will always have to be prisons.