Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to implement a replacement programme to introduce LED lighting throughout his Department's buildings and sites; if he will estimate the proportion of lighting in his Department which is LED; and if he will make a statement.

Currently the Department are investigating replacing existing stairwell lighting at 1 Victoria Street with LED lighting. Unfortunately the department cannot afford to switch all lighting to LED due to the large investment needed to do this.

However lighting is gradually being upgraded to LED throughout the estate such as the recent Conference Centre lighting project and LED lighting has also been introduced to lift cars and the underground car park.

Another key factor to address is the lease expiry on buildings as the department do not own the buildings it occupies, a clear payback must be achieved before the lease expires. In the current economic climate the department faces significant funding cuts and must prioritise spending accordingly. This has resulted in a limited expenditure on estate services and a prioritisation on providing and maintaining key services.

I would not be able to estimate the proportion of LED lighting without carrying out a comprehensive survey across all sites which would not be time or cost effective.