To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he has taken to reduce his Department's carbon dioxide emissions in 2008-09. (181843)

To continue to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in 2008-09 my Department has taken the following steps:

Findings from Carbon Trust energy surveys on our headquarters buildings have been adopted and are being actioned within my Department’s environmental management system;

An ongoing major refurbishment project in our London headquarters building is expected to generate significant reductions in energy use through adoption of new ways of working and energy conserving lighting;

Launching and delivering an internal communications campaign to raise awareness on sustainability issues, highlight successes and initiate activities so leading to a more careful use of scarce resources.