To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure the co-ordination of information from Government departments and agencies in respect of energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement. (269520)

Since 2007, the Government have run high-profile marketing campaigns to engage citizens on climate change issues. These serve to address the confusion and powerlessness which can impede people from taking action, and encourage genuine and sustained behaviour change to help reduce carbon emissions and meet the UK emissions targets.

These campaigns have been run under the umbrella of ACT ON CO₂, a Government-led and multi-partnered behaviour change brand, which aims to provide clarity and consistency across different communications on climate change and, by extension, energy efficiency. The ACT ON CO₂ website aims to signpost, interact, coordinate and engage consumers on climate change, providing a clear, consistent, authoritative and credible voice. The website allows other Government departments to build and add further climate change information as and when necessary.

The ACT ON CO₂ website, which includes a carbon footprint calculator as the key engagement tool, supports and amplifies all campaign activity. In running the website, DECC aims to maximise opportunities to ‘cross-sell’ behaviour messages between all climate change communications from Government departments, NGOs and other partners. DECC, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Transport, Communities and Local Government, the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust all provide information and advice or run campaigns, or both, under ACT ON CO₂. An ACT ON CO₂ toolkit has been developed to help facilitate a consistent message and approach.

Additionally DECC is in regular contact with other relevant Government departments and delivery bodies such as the Energy Saving Trust and Carbon Trust to share communication plans and identify potential opportunities to work together to the benefit of consumers. DECC explicitly instructs its media buying agencies to avoid clashes in scheduling of advertising.

DECC also shares analyses and findings on energy savings of various energy saving technologies with the Energy Saving Trust to ensure a consistent approach.

The Government also provide a range of information and support to help businesses improve their energy efficiency, including through the Carbon Trust and Regional Development Agencies. We are taking steps to make that information easier to access through Business Link website at:

www.businesslink.gov.uk

as part of the cross-Government Solutions for Business programme.