Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to insulate his Departmental estate in order to improve energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement.

DWP has outsourced the provision of its estate until 31st March 2018 under a 20-year contract with its private sector partner Telereal Trillium (TT), leasing back fully serviced accommodation, via a PFI Contract known as PRIME.

The buildings occupied by DWP under this PFI arrangement are generally multi-storey offices and roof space is therefore limited, resulting in most significant heat loss being via the walls, which are predominantly windows for good natural light.

As part of on-going life cycle replacement projects planned by TT, for windows and to recover roofs, the work is carried out to the current building standard which includes modern insulating requirements.

Additionally, during estate rationalisation DWP carefully consider the energy rating of a building as part of the decision process and where possible moves out of poorly insulated buildings.