Sustainability in the Ministry of Justice inquiry launched

7 November 2017

The Environmental Audit Committee launches its inquiry the role that sustainability plays in the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) departmental policy-making, governance, procurement and operations. This inquiry is supported by the publishing of the NAO's report into the subject.

MoJ has the second biggest estate of all Government departments but has "significant gaps and weaknesses" in accountability on environmental issues, finds NAO report.

The National Audit Office report into MoJ sustainability, released today, will underpin the one-off evidence session to be held on Tuesday 14 November. This follows similar inquiries into sustainability in the Department of Transport, HM Treasury, the Home Office and the former Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Mary Creagh MP, Chair, said:

"The Ministry of Justice is responsible for prisons, courts, and sites of special scientific interest throughout England and Wales.
"It is crucial for the whole country, therefore, that the environmental impacts of policy making are understood. Departments such as the Ministry of Justice lead from the front when it comes to sustainability."

From the NAO report:

"[The MoJ] is responsible for 1,650 sites with a collective floor area of more than 5 million m2. The Ministry's estate accounts for around 20% of the greenhouse gas emissions, waste and water use from the central government estate."

The Committee will be holding an evidence session with the Department on the morning of the 14 November.

Further information

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