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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Child Protection Services

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimates the Department has made for local government expenditure on legal advice for child protection services for (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03. [110164]

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Energy Policy

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement, in relation to the Lord Chancellor's Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years. [108867]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The amount of energy consumed, and spending on energy and energy efficiency measures as well as the amount saved through energy efficiency measures are summarised in the following table.

	Energy consumption(37) (GWh/y)	Energy expenditure(38) (£m/y)	Energy/m2(39)(kWh/m2/y)	Savings over 1997–98(40)(percentage)	Energy Efficiency Spend(41) (£k/y)
1997–98	182.32	5,218,420	244.96	—	800,000
1998–99	186.82	5,282,774	251.37	-3	265,000
1999–2000	167.08	5,021,175	226.38	8	525,000
2000–01	163.98	4,591,211	223.14	9	321,000
2001–02	149.68	4,983,831	204.06	17	278,000

⁽³⁷⁾ Energy consumption: this is weather-corrected in the usual manner, using annual degree days relative to the 20 year average for 1990–01. The figures are those reported on for the central Government estate campaign, and generally include each Department's main estate plus all agencies, but not NDPBs.

⁽³⁸⁾ Energy expenditure: this is actual spend, and from April 2001, includes the Climate Change Levy.

⁽³⁹⁾ Energy/m2: this variable allows for changes in both weather and estate size on energy consumption. So annual changes will generally reflect efficiency changes.

⁽⁴⁰⁾ Savings over 1997–98: These have been expressed as percentage savings relative to the first year quoted here, and are based on the figures in the preceding column.

⁽⁴¹⁾ Energy efficiency spend: Note that this is not necessarily a good measure of an effective energy efficiency policy. For example, when a new building is commissioned or an existing one refurbished, good design can actually reduce capital costs, eg by avoiding air conditioning. The costs of an effective energy management team may also not be included.

This Department does not hold figures for its NDPBs and is not able to provide this without incurring disproportionate cost.

The Energy White Paper, "Our Energy Future—Creating a Low Carbon Economy" made clear the importance the Government attaches to improving energy efficiency in its own estate. This is reflected in several targets. There is currently an interim target of a 1 per cent. per annum on-going reduction in weather-corrected carbon emissions, pending the development of new indicators and targets based on benchmarking the performance of each Department's largest buildings. These new targets are planned to be in place later this year. New targets for Government Departments' use of CHP generated electricity will also be established during 2003.

In addition, the review of Government procurement has identified areas where procurement could reinforce the achievement of these targets, and arrangements are being made centrally for Departments to purchase goods with high energy efficiency standards and which provide good value for money.

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On the purchase of renewable electricity, Ministers agreed the following target in May 2001:

"All departments will ensure that by 31 March 2003, at least 5% of their electricity comes from renewable sources that are exempt from the Climate Change Levy or from self generation, provided this does not entail excessive cost. This will rise to at least 10% supply from such sources by 31 March 2008, but will be reviewed after 31 March 2003 to take account of market conditions following the introduction of the renewables obligation. The review of 2003 will include consideration of increasing or bringing forward the target".

European Working Groups

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress with achieving transparency in respect of the European working groups for which the Lord Chancellor's Department is responsible. [105739]

Yvette Cooper: The Government have long been committed to greater openness in the EU Institutions. This was a key theme of the UK Presidencies in 1992 and 1998. Making it easier to gain access to non-sensitive documents is crucial to this. The Government welcomed Regulation 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents. As a result, more documents are released to the public, while genuinely sensitive documents are given the protection they need.

Much of the Council's work takes place in preparatory bodies, including working groups.

Accountability and transparency of Council business to Parliament are ensured by the scrutiny process, to which the Government are also firmly committed.

We strongly supported the measures agreed at the Seville European Council to make the Council more open when in legislating mode. We remain committed to increasing transparency. The Future of Europe Convention is also looking at ways to make the EU more open.

Exhibitions

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list events at which the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible have exhibited in each of the last three years, stating for each (a) the purpose of exhibiting, (b) the cost of exhibiting and (c) the number of staff attending for the exhibition. [107624]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Information for this is not held centrally and is not readily available. It could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Legal Services

Mr. Burnett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations she has received regarding (a) abolition of the current cost of living increases for Community Legal Service contracts and (b) automatic annual uprating of funding for Community Legal Service contracts in line with the Retail Prices Index. [109390R]

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Ms Rosie Winterton: My Department receives regular representations on remuneration rates for the Community Legal Service (CLS). However, we have has received no representations on the abolition of cost of living increases for CLS contracts. As at 16 April, my Department had received 28 letters and three parliamentary questions from Members; and 13 letters direct from members of the public on the automatic annual uprating of funding for CLS contracts.

Mr. Burnett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals she has for improving access for socially excluded people to justice in civil law disputes in areas where there are no firms bidding for Community Legal Service contracts. [109391R]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Through the on-going development of the Community Legal Service, the Legal Services Commission has introduced initiatives to improve access to specialist advice in civil matters for the socially excluded, including a number aimed at those who live in areas where there may be a shortage of contracted suppliers. The initiatives include telephone advice pilots in categories such as debt, employment, housing and welfare benefits, as well as outreach contracts through which law firms and other service providers deliver advice sessions at a range of venues such as community centres and GP surgeries. In addition, the first round of the Partnership Innovation Budget funds 76 projects utilising fresh methods of advice provision in areas where supply is limited.

Mr. Burnett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consultations the Lord Chancellor's Department has undertaken on the appropriateness of placing duties on local government to (a) participate in Community Legal Service Partnerships and (b) include Community Legal Service coverage in their strategic plans. [109392R]

Ms Rosie Winterton: My Department has not formally consulted on the issue of a statutory duty either compelling local authority participation in Community Legal Service (CLS) Partnerships, or compelling the inclusion of CLS coverage in local authority strategic plans. From the outset of the CLS, local authorities have demonstrated a willingness to participate actively in the emerging CLS Partnerships. Their participation is regarded as central to the success of each CLS Partnership. These now involve over four hundred local authorities and cover over 99 per cent. of the population of England and Wales. The introduction of a Best Value Performance Indicator measuring the percentage of local authority expenditure on CLS quality marked services has provided an incentive for local authorities to include the CLS as part of their own strategic plans.

Mr. Burnett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Lord Chancellor's Department has to carry out an evaluation of the Community Legal Service; and if she will make a statement. [109393R]

Ms Rosie Winterton: My Department will commission an independent review of the Community Legal Service (CLS) scheduled to begin in the autumn of 2003 and to report in April 2004. The terms of reference will be finalised shortly. It is likely that the review will

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assess how the CLS has impacted on the accessibility of legal advice services at a local level and the ways in which policy development has influenced the targeting of resources within communities. It is also likely that consideration will be given to the relationship between the CLS and the wider social exclusion agenda and the linkages that have been established with the social equity programmes of other Government Departments.

Mr. Burnett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment the Lord Chancellor's Department has made of the effect of proposed changes to competition rules concerning the provision of legal services upon Community Legal Service contracts. [109394R]

Ms Rosie Winterton: My Department works with the Legal Services Commission to ensure that the Community Legal Service contracting regime complies with Government competition policy and regulations.

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