§ Sir Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will explain the reasons for the delay in the submission of the Government's reply to the report of the Trade and Industry Committee entitled the "Wealth of Waste", HC, 1983–84, No. 640; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Select Committee's report was published on 19 December, just before the Christmas recess. In the preparation of the Government's response, there had to be consultations between several interested Departments and consideration give to the views of outside bodies. It was therefore agreed with the Chairman of the Committee that some extension of the normal timescale was in order. As was indicated in an earlier reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mr. Rost) on 2 April 1985 at column469 the Governemt's response was delivered to the Committee on 25 March.