To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department plans to take to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27 March 2010. (319098)

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) participated in Earth Hour 2009 by asking the management in each of its buildings to take every possible step to ensure that no unnecessary lighting was left on. This is our aim at all times.

The NIO have appointed a Green Champion who intends to issue a similar message for this year's Earth Hour event which takes place on 27 March 2010 at 8.30 pm.