HC Deb 03 March 1964 vol 690 cc1100-1
3. Mr. Longden

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs who is the chairman of, and what interests are represented on, the Working Party on Refuse Collection which he set up some months ago; what progress it is making; and when it is likely to report.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. F. V. Corfield)

The chairman is Mr. H. H. Browne, an Assistant Secretary in the Ministry. I am sending my hon. Friend a list of members. Most are local authority technical officers in charge of refuse collection services, but there are also a borough treasurer, a housing manager, a work study specialist, a housewife, and an engineering inspector of the Ministry. As regards the last two parts of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for the City of Chester (Mr. Temple) on 21st January, 1964.

Mr. Longden

While thanking my hon. Friend for that Answer, may I ask whether he can say why it was necessary to set up this Working Party? Was it because there is much more refuse than there was or is it because the character of the refuse has changed?

Mr. Corfield

It is for both those reasons and also because of the development of alternative means of dealing with refuse.

Mrs. Slater

Will the Working Party, when considering alternative methods, have regard to the composting of household refuse?

Mr. Corfield

I cannot answer that question definitely, but no doubt that will be within its terms of reference.