MP Michael Foster has given his support in Parliament for a Bill to reduce carbon emissions from offices.

The MP for Hastings and Rye is one of 281 MPs who have signed a House of Commons Early Day Motion (EDM 2378) supporting the Climate Change (Commercial and Public Services Sector) Bill.

This sector has the fastest growing energy use apart from aviation. Computers and other electronic equipment have a high carbon footprint and the use of electricity to power these items is expected to increase by about 45 per cent from 1990 to 2020.

The Bill will set legally binding targets for reducing energy usage in the commercial sector and targets for energy production from renewable sources.

Mr Foster said: "The need for urgent action to cut our carbon emissions is greater than ever.

"The Government has rightly acknowledged that we need to do a lot more if we are to meet our climate change targets of a 20 per cent reduction in C02 emissions by 2010."