Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 2 October 2019 to Question 291004 and to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question 290324, if he will introduce the same policy as the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and switch to an electricity provider that supplies electricity solely from renewable resources within the next 12 months; and for what reason his Department has not already ensured its electricity is supplied solely from renewable resources.

Government departments are mandated to use Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Energy frameworks for the supply of electricity. EDF is the current supplier and the current arrangement lasts until March 2022.

We are exploring with CCS how to increase the percentage of energy sourced from renewables. This includes the feasibility of changing the current percentage mix, the costs of securing matched renewable energy through obtaining Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origination (REGOs), and the timescales for doing so.

To date the Department has prioritised energy efficiency and spend to save investment on its estate. But as part of the MoJ’s commitment to achieve net zero by 2050 or sooner, the Department is exploring options for increased on-site renewable energy generation, and low and no carbon energy supply.