APPENDIX 21
Letter to the Chairman from Mr John Denham,
MP, Green Minister, Department of Social Security
Thank you for your letter dated 28 January 1998
and the enclosed annex detailing specific questions.
In replying I have attempted to cover all the
points that I feel are relevant to my Department. As you know
I am keen to play my part in putting the environment and the concept
of sustainable development at the heart of decision making across
government. To this end I see DSS, one of the larger departments,
as having a major role to play in this process.
The report covers your specific queries point
by point. I felt it, however, useful to highlight a few key issues
for this department.
The nature of the Department's core business
being what it is, the major impact on the environment comes from
the use of energy in transporting, accommodating and providing
Information Technology tools for over 70,000 staff.
With effect from 1 April 1998 the majority of
the Department's staff will be provided with fully serviced accommodation
under a Private Partnership Project initiative. The service suppliers
will be incentivised by allowing them to share in energy consumption
efficiencies that can be demonstrated to be directly attributable
to their own business acumen.
Although the DSS contribution to the Departmental-wide
15 per cent target has been disappointing the changes in our business
methods have been largely responsible for our shortcomings in
this area. I am assured that the potential for future improvement
is significant.
23 February 1998
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