To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce a waste minimisation strategy for his Department. [11535]

Waste minimisation is already part of this Department's current energy and environment plans for its buildings, with particular emphasis on paper, a major component of waste.Facilities for the recycling of paper, cans and laser printer cartridges have been provided in the Department's main buildings for a number of years. Recent initiatives include reducing the amount of paper used and widening the range of recycling facilities to other materials.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the amount, and proportion, of paper recycled by his Department in each of the last five years. [11537]

The Department of Health recycled approximately 120,000 kg of waste paper in London for the 1996–97 year.Paper comes into the Department from many different sources and not all is currently measured. The proportion of paper sent for recycling cannot therefore be calculated.Data were not collected for previous years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on existing targets set to minimise waste within his Department. [11536]

While recycling facilities have been available for a number of years in the Department's main buildings, volumes of materials sent for recycling have only been recorded since April 1996. Based on very