To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department is on course to meet the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate targets to (a) source at least 10 per cent. of its electricity from renewables by 31 March 2008 and (b) increase recycling figures to 40 per cent. of waste by 2010. (181316)

The Department has, since 2004-05, purchased 100 per cent. of the electricity for its main London administrative estate from renewable sources.

In 2005-06, 91 per cent. of the waste removed from our London administrative estate was recycled.

Notes:

1. The figure represents waste removed from our five London buildings (Skipton House, Wellington House, Richmond House, Eileen House, Hannibal House). It excludes waste removed from Quarry House, Leeds (building managed on behalf of Department for Work and Pensions). It also excludes redundant information technology equipment.

2. The recycling figures differ from those quoted in the 2006 “Sustainable Development in Government” report, which include waste removed from sites occupied by our two executive agencies, NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency, and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.