To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps he is taking to achieve a co-ordinated approach with the House of Lords to lessen the environmental footprint of the parliamentary estate.

Environmental issues are generally considered for the parliamentary estate as a whole. For example:

Both Houses have adopted an Energy and Water Saving Policy and a Waste Management Policy and are supportive of the implementation strategies contained therein.

The briefs for all works projects carried out for both Houses include energy efficiency requirements.

The current environmental awareness raising campaign is targeted at both Houses; invitations to the guest speaker presentations are sent to staff of both Houses and the exhibition during Energy Saving Week in October 2006 was held in both Commons and Lords buildings.

Energy efficiency training has been offered to staff of both Houses and members of the Energy Saving Group and the Waste Management Steering Group come from both Houses.

The data on energy and water consumptions and waste recycling reported in the Serjeant at Arms Monthly Management Report and in the House of Commons Board of Management Performance Information Quarterly Report are for the entire estate, Commons and Lords combined.

A report recommending the implementation of an environmental management system on the parliamentary estate has been approved by the Board of Management in the House of Commons and it will be presented to the House of Lords Management Board for approval soon.