§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy 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 when they expect the Working Party jointly appointed by the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government "to consider what further encouragement can be given to use waste as 'fill' to road building" will report.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)My Lords, the report of the Working Party has been received and is being considered. A statement will be made as soon as we are ready.
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I direct his attention to the fact that on February 15 his noble friend Lord Mowbray and Stourton stated that the Working Party had completed their recommendations and that they hoped to complete the task in April, or earlier if posible? May I ask whether the report, when published, will be a full report or whether it will be limited to recommendations?
§ LORD SANDFORDNo, my Lords, it will not be a full report, because the report itself contains a number of items of information given in confidence; but the main recommendations will be published.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell us whether the report will extend to the question of 796 land reclamation and pipe-lining of waste, in which, as he knows, your Lordships' House has shown an interest?
§ LORD SANDFORDNo, my Lords, it will not deal with either of those topics in full, but the latter enters into consideration.
§ LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORDMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that there is a major problem for gravel working, especially in the Home Counties in South-East England, where the demands for future construction work are very heavy? Is he aware that these waste products could help satisfy part of that demand? Is my noble friend further aware that it is most desirable that progress should be made with this general study in order to see how these waste products could be used?
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, my Lords. My right honourable friend is fully aware of these wider considerations, and the Statement that will be made on the Working Party report, which is rather narrow and technical, will have them very much in mind.
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, may I ask whether the noble Lord will do his utmost to ensure that this matter is dealt with expeditiously? Every day that passes means lost opportunities for using this "fill" for road building purposes.
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, by Lods, but it is just as important to get the answer right.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, will my noble friend tell us whether there is any chance of getting this report before the Recess, even though that seems likely to be foreshortened by other events?
§ LORD SANDFORDNo, my Lords; it is not a question of publishing the report; it is a question of making a statement incorporating the recommendations and setting the report in a wider context.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, may I ask whether the noble Lord understood his noble friend's point about the foreshortening of Parliament before the Recess?
§ LORD SANDFORDNo, my Lords, I certainly did not get that point.
§ LORD SANDFORDNo, my Lords: I have not got it now.