ENERGY consumption by government departments has risen sharply over the past five years, in spite of the Government’s commitment to tackling climate change and persuading the public to conserve energy.

The Department for International Development (DFID) is the worst offender, with a 32 per cent rise in energy use over the past financial year compared with five years earlier. It is closely followed by the Department of Transport, a much bigger energy user.

The Treasury, which has levied rising taxes on fuel to encourage lower energy use, itself consumed 20 per cent more. Other double-digit increases came at the Department for Constitutional Affairs (15 per cent) and at Education and Skills (13.9 per cent).

Of 13 departments, only two used less energy, putting the average rise above 10 per cent. Defence, the biggest user, put in the most creditable performance. Figures for the Health Department, the only ministry to make big cuts in energy use, do not include the NHS.

The others’ rising use of energy was revealed in an answer to a parliamentary question posed by Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat trade and industry spokesman. He said: “Given the fuel shortages that are expected this winter, it seems extraordinary that government departments should be using ever more energy. Consumers and businesses will be rightly angry to see Government wasting energy while they have to pay higher prices and cut production.”

Charlie Kronick, chief policy adviser at Greenpeace, said: “This is another example of the Government being poor on delivery when it comes to climate change.”

Gareth Thomas, the International Development Minister, told Mr Lamb that because of departmental moves it was unfair to compare present use with five years ago. In a written answer, he said: “DFID has a 2002-03 baseline year as the London office moved to a completely new refurbished building at the end of 2001 and work began to refurbish the East Kilbride office. The increase in consumption in 2004-05 is due to the East Kilbride refurbishment.”

The Transport Department said that its driving test centres used more energy because they had been opening for longer hours and at weekends to cut queues. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency had also opened new buildings in South Wales.

The Treasury said: “In recent years, as part of the O’Donnell review, the number of Treasury staff has temporarily increased, and energy consumption has increased accordingly. HM Treasury is one of the leading departments in reducing carbon emissions and will shortly be implementing measures to improve energy efficiency following the Carbon Trust’s audit of the building.”