§ 12. Mr. David Amess (Southend, West)If she will make a statement on the Government's waste management strategy. [13075]
§ The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett)The national waste strategy, published in May last year, seeks to encourage more sustainable resource use by reducing the amount of waste created and by extracting value wherever possible from the waste that is produced.
We have set demanding statutory recycling targets for local authorities, increased the landfill tax, held consultations on a system of tradable landfill permits to achieve the required diversion from landfill, and established the waste resources action programme to help create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products.
Later this month we shall hold a waste summit for those with an interest in waste issues to discuss what more needs to be done.
§ Mr. AmessThe Secretary of State will be aware that in Essex recycling is running at 19 per cent. countywide; in civic amenities the figure is as high as 53 per cent. Does she realise that in order to meet increased targets local authorities will incur huge extra costs? In July, the comprehensive spending review promised more money—specifically, £140 million was promised to local authorities. Will she explain why local authorities have not so far received any extra money?
§ Margaret BeckettThe hon. Gentleman correctly says that extra resources were made available, but that was, of course, over a three-year period. I accept his point about 978 what is being done already by Essex, among other local authorities, but he will know that it is important for the Government to encourage them to do far more, and that only through a constructive and effective partnership between Government and local authorities can we reach and achieve the targets. I anticipate that all those issues will be thrashed out at the waste summit.