Green Ministers fail to impress Audit Committee

The effectiveness of the "greening Government" initiative has been called into question by Green Ministers themselves in evidence to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. Progress on setting environmental targets, establishing up certified environmental management systems and on reporting has been patchy at best, with one Minister conceding that Whitehall's performance is so poor that it is hamstrung in urging industry to do better. The Committee also heard conflicting approaches to disclosure of environmental appraisals of policies, with one Department committed to openness but another refusing to disclose.