§ LORD MOYLEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will urge upon local authorities the need to salvage waste material for commercial purposes; and whether they will consider making an investment grant to small local authorities for the provision of equipment necessary for salvaging waste material.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY (LORD DELACOURT-SMITH)My Lords, in the debate in your Lordships' House on March 11 it was made clear that the Government are fully aware of the importance to the national economy of the reclamation of waste materials. Local authorities can usefully contribute to this, particularly in relation to waste paper, but only, as was indicated in the 2 debate, on a selective basis in response to demand. Local authorities are not eligible for investment grants under the Industrial Development Act 1966, and the Government see no good reason for introducing legislation that would entitle them to grants.
§ BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEYMy Lords, is the Minister aware that the whole of the refuse from Heathrow Air-port is collected by the Greater London Council? As a great deal of this refuse must be worth reclaiming, which perhaps the Airport itself might do in the first instance, rather than the G.L.C., does not the noble Lord think it advisable that inquiries should be made into this matter?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, I will certainly look into the point that the noble Baroness has raised.
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, can my noble friend indicate whether any progress has been made into the re-use of industrial waste for the purposes of both road-filling and civil engineering?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, that was one of the questions which was discussed in the debate which the noble Baroness initiated and, as indicated in the course of that debate, the matter is still under examination.
§ LORD MOYLEMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that a number of charity organisations and the Scout 3 movement play a big part in the reclamation of waste material, particularly of waste paper? I wonder whether, in view of what the Minister has said, the Government will do their utmost to encourage the charity organisations and the Scout movement to make a special effort this year to increase the collection of waste paper.
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, I recognise the valuable work that is done by voluntary organisations in this connection. However, I want strongly to emphasise that all voluntary organisations who are contemplating engaging in such activity should ensure beforehand that they have a reliable outlet for the waste paper or other waste materials which they collect.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, is the Minister aware that local authorities are finding it more and more difficult to find tipping space for waste material, and that it would be much more economic in the long run if the Government would en-courage them to invest in processing plants to avoid this tipping problem?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, any encouragement of investment by way of grant would, of course, raise issues for local authorities which go be-yond the subject covered by the Question. The Government are not convinced that any payment of grants of this kind would be justified, or indeed is widely demanded.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, can my noble friend say what happens to waste paper in this House?