To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 to adapt to the effects of climate change as they affect his Departmental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement. (165037)

The Ministry of Justice is awaiting the cross-Government Adaptation Policy Framework, which will set out our overall intentions in relation to adapting to the effects of climate change. This is expected to be published in the spring of 2008, and is in response to the Climate Change Bill. In the meantime, my Department has developed design guidance for new construction projects to reflect the need to have buildings capable of dealing with the major impacts of climate change in northern and western Europe. Measures are also being taken to achieve carbon reduction targets that will have the additional benefit of mitigating against certain effects of climate change. Finally, the likelihood of rising water levels is also taken into account in planning and acquisition of new sites.