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Water Supply: Consumption

Volume 684: debated on Monday 3 July 2006

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the total consumption of water in cubic metres, including a breakdown of consumption per occupant, in the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence in each of the past 10 years.[HL6229]

The information requested on water consumption in MoD Main Building in Whitehall is given in the table below. Unfortunately, we have not been able to establish the information for financial year 1996-97. The water consumption figures are rounded because actual consumption data is linked to billing periods, and these do not fall neatly into financial years. The figure for consumption per occupant is an approximation based on the total population of Main Building. MoD Main Building was largely vacant for redevelopment from August 2001 to May 2004 and this is reflected in the data, which also demonstrates a significant reduction in the average water consumption rate over the period. Work is in hand under the auspices of the Framework for Sustainable Development to improve this figure still further.

Period

Approximate water consumption in cubic metres

Number of occupants

Average annual consumption per occupant in cubic metres

1997-98

124,000

2,900

43

1998-99

124,000

2,900

43

1999-2000

84,000

2,900

29

2000-01

72,000

2,900

25

2001-02

56,000

N/A

2002-03

33,000

*

N/A

2003-04

44,000

*

N/A

2004-05

79,000

3,600

22

2005-06

54,000

3,600

15

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much water in total and per occupant in cubic metres was consumed in the headquarters of the Home Office in each of the past 10 years.[HL6567]

In order to contribute to the annual Sustainable Development in Government report, departments are required to submit data on the total volume of water used across their office estate, as well as the number of staff. From these data, departments calculate an average per person. The Home Office does not routinely retain information about average water consumption relating to particular buildings but we are able to supply the following details for our headquarters building for the past seven years. Figures up to 2005 relate to the previous headquarters building at 50 Queen Anne's Gate and for 2005-06 they relate to the new headquarters building at 2 Marsham Street (which consolidated staff from the previous headquarters and several other buildings).

Financial Year

Consumption (cubic metres)

Staff Numbers in HO HQ building

Average consumption (cubic metres)

1999-2000

38,331

Not known

N/A

2000-01

43,970

Not known

N/A

2001-02

37,686

1,450

25.9

2002-03

26,252

1,700

15.4

2003-04

27,775

1,800

15.4

2004-05

31,457

1,750

17.9

2005-06

57,957

3,500

16.5

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much water in total and per occupant in cubic metres was consumed in the headquarters of the Department of Health in each of the past 10 years.[HL6571]

The Department of Health does not have a record of water consumption for years before 1997-98. The water consumption figures (in cubic metres) for its main London administrative estate are as follows.

1997-98

60,768

1998-99

30,507

1999-2000

28,428

2000-01

25,440

2001-02

22,167

2002-03

27,287

2003-04

22,156

7.5 cubic metres per person

2004-05

20,926

7.12 cubic metres per person

The department does not have a record of building occupancy for years prior to 2002-03.

In 2004-05, the average water consumption per person per year was 7.12 cubic metres. This has significantly improved on the 7.7 cubic metres target set in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.