Government Departments failing to make Green travel choices

9.02.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th May 2008

Lewes, Sussex Lib Dem MP Norman Baker - "This Government simply doesn't understand how to cut carbon emissions or control costs."

Government departments are failing to reduce unnecessary travel or investigate green alternatives to air travel. The Tandberg report, published today, found departments are failing to adequately record travel and rarely ask civil servants to justify their journeys, for example by asking if they had considered tele or video conferencing as an alternative.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson and Sussex MP, Norman Baker said "This Government simply doesn't understand how to cut carbon emissions or control costs. Today's report shows that basic steps are not being taken to reduce the need to travel. The taxpayer and the environment are paying the price for the Government's extravagance. Ministers clearly prefer jetting around the world to using less glamorous but more sustainable alternatives, such as video conferencing."

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