The House of Commons authorities must step up efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of the Parliamentary Estate and make a far stronger commitment to sustainable procurement, Brighton's Green MP has urged.

In an Early Day Motion tabled today, Caroline claims that Parliament is failing to move fast enough on its green commitments, highlighting the reality that in many buildings on the Estate, it is impossible to turn down the radiators - which are often on at full blast even in mild weather.

She also reveals a refusal by the House of Commons to offer MPs the option of recycled Christmas cards, on the spurious grounds that recycled card would be of a ‘significantly inferior' quality - as well as its failure to replace bottled water with tap in meeting rooms.

Caroline commented:

"While I welcome Parliament's Environmental Improvement Plan and appreciate the efforts being made by the Environment Team, I am concerned that the pace of change towards making the Estate truly green is far too slow.

"It is incredibly inefficient, for example, that radiators in buildings across the Estate are on full blast, and cannot be turned down manually even in the mild weather - making the offices of many MPs and staff unbearably hot and stuffy.

"Furthermore, I find it ridiculous that bottled water continues to be provided in committee rooms instead of tap water, despite the obvious environmental benefits that this change would bring.

"And the idea that MPs should be refused the option of sending Christmas cards printed on recycled card to their constituents and colleagues on the grounds that the recycled material would be, according to the Speaker's Art Fund, ‘significantly inferior', is shocking."

She concluded:

"It's clear that the House authorities need to prioritise environmental improvements to ensure that Parliament is leading by example in its green performance - as well as adopting a more ethical procurement policy which phases out non-Fairtrade products where Fairtrade alternatives exist."

ENDS

Notes

Caroline is the primary sponsor of EDM 2398, Environmental Footprint of the Parliamentary Estate. It is also sponsored by Mark Durkan MP and Bob Russell MP.