asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made towards making government departments carbon neutral by 2012. [HL6171]

The Government will shortly be consulting on a definition of carbon neutrality with the aim of publishing a final definition in spring 2009. We will then review the implications for departments' delivery of the current carbon neutrality target and the potential need for off-sets.

Forecasts based on data yet to be verified by the Sustainable Development Commission indicate that, in 2007-08, carbon emissions from offices on the civil estate reduced by 6.5 per cent against the baseline year of 1999-2000. This was an improvement on the 4 per cent reduction recorded in 2006-07.