Hughes quizzes Bell on waste gas at Westminster (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

Hughes quizzes Bell on waste gas at Westminster

October 18, 2009 10:31 AM

CO2 emission • [Oct 15] Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey, Liberal Democrat): ' . . WE could save an enormous amount by immediate action. Will the hon. Gentleman please view that as urgent and something that can be delivered this year?'

If the House of Commons Commission will make it its policy to reduce CO2emissions from the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate by 10 % by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Bell (Second Church Estates Commissioner, No Department; Middlesbrough, Labour): The House of Commons Commission will consider the matter at its meeting on 19 October. A study quantifying potential short, medium and long-term carbon savings is scheduled to be completed by the end of November. We will then be able to set meaningful, robust and deliverable targets for 2010-11.

Simon Hughes: I am grateful for that answer and to you, Mr. Speaker, for referring my request to you to the House of Commons Commission.

Very practical things could be done immediately and make a significant difference-for example, turning off the annunciators, which were on throughout the recess, thus consuming energy, and ensuring that television screens go off at the end of the evening and are not on stand-by. We could save an enormous amount by immediate action. Will the hon. Gentleman please view that as urgent and something that can be delivered this year?

Stuart Bell: I know that the hon. Gentleman is a member of the 10:10 carbon campaign-that is public knowledge. The campaign includes 24,000 individuals, 1,000 businesses, 200 educational facilities and 450 organisations. We welcome individual contributions to that scheme. Only with concerted effort on the part of Members and staff from both Houses and PICT to tackle individual behaviour, business practices, equipment and infrastructure will it be feasible to achieve the 10 per cent. reduction in Parliament. On my original point, the matter comes before the Commission on Monday

Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats: