To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies to improve the thermal efficiency of their buildings in the last 12 months. (266762)

The Department for Transport is committed to improving the thermal efficiency of its buildings, subject to the development of business cases addressing the value for money, affordability and carbon implications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress his Department has made towards the target of increasing its energy efficiency per square metre of its estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000 levels; and if he will make a statement. (266875)

The Department for Transport including its agencies reports performance data on energy efficiency per m² of its estate annually as part of the Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) reporting process. The Department for Transport was formed in 2002-03 and therefore has this year as its baseline for energy targets under SDiG.

In the last published SDiG Report for 2006-07 the Department for Transport recorded an energy efficiency figure of 293 kWh per m² compared to a baseline of 277 kWh per m². The figure for 2007-08 is due to be published in the next SDiG report on 27 April. The Department expects to see an improvement on the 2006-07 figure, with further work to do to achieve the 15 per cent. reduction by 2010.