Environment Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 9 March 2006.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets have been set for (a) energy efficiency, (b) water efficiency and (c) other environmental issues since July 2003.
The information is as follows:
(a) There are two targets in the household sector. The Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2004 included an aim to save 3.5 million tonnes of carbon from homes in England by 2010, set in accordance with the requirements of the Sustainable Energy Act 2003. The Housing Act 2004 added a further goal—to take reasonable steps to improve residential energy efficiency by at least 20 per cent. by 2010, from a year 2000 baseline. In the public sector, the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government estate 2004 states that Government Departments are to increase the energy efficiency of the buildings on their estate by 15 per cent. by 2010–11, relative to 1999–2000.
(b) Since 1996, all water companies in England and Wales have had a duty to promote the efficient use of water by all their customers. The Office of Water Services (Ofwat) enforce this duty and report on water company progress in the annual 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' report. In the public sector, the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government estate 2004 states that Government Departments should reduce water consumption in office buildings to an average of 7.7 m 3 per person per year by
(c) There are a number of other environmental targets for the public sector set out in the Framework on the Government estate 2004. The Framework sets operational targets to be met by central Government Departments and their Executive agencies to encourage more sustainable management of the Government's land and buildings. The Framework has a largely environmental focus and comprises nine parts (including waste, water, energy and biodiversity). Specific targets for water usage and energy efficiency are mentioned above.
Since July 2003, specific targets have been set for biodiversity, procurement, estates management and construction and social impacts. Reports on progress against the Framework targets are published each year in the annual Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) reports. The Framework is currently being reviewed in order to deliver a step change in the way the Government sustainably manages its land and buildings (further background on this is shown in the attached annex).
Outside the public sector Government have a range of other environmental targets. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has nine public service agreement (PSA) targets which have been agreed with the Treasury since 2003. The majority of these PSA targets relate to environmental issues and they all contribute to DEFRA's overarching aim of sustainable development. The PSA targets are published and reported on in DEFRA's current Autumn Performance Report which is available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/default.htmt#apr
Other targets relating to environmental issues are published in DEFRA's Five Year Strategy: Delivering the Essentials of Life, which is available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/5year-strategy/index.htm, and in the UK Government's Sustainable Development Strategy: Securing the Future, which is available at: http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/publications/uk-strategy/index.htm
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