To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of paper used (a) for photocopying and (b) in printed publications by his Department was from recycled sources in each of the last three years. (134042)

The Home Office is committed to meeting the current cross-Government sustainable operations targets which includes paper recycling rates. It is also committed to meeting the mandatory minimum environmental procurement product standards which include paper standards.

During the last three years all paper used by the main Home Office for photocopying was from recycled sources. We hold no information on the percentage of recycled paper used in printed publications in 2004-05, but for 2005-06 and 2006-07 respectively the figures were 6 per cent. and 25 per cent. Since late 2006 the Home Office has been using recycled paper for all of its printed publications.