To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps the House of Commons Commission plans to take to enable the House to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27 March 2010. (319087)

The Commission has decided that the House will participate in campaigns only in exceptional circumstances and there are therefore no plans for the House to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27 March 2010. The event is understood to be taking place at 8.30 pm on a Saturday evening, so the potential for significant reductions in the House’s emissions during the event will be very limited. An action plan and targets for reducing the House’s carbon dioxide emissions are currently being drawn up.