§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how he intends to fund innovative recycling projects in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAll recycling projects put forward by local authorities when they submit their financial plans will be carefully considered for capital consent. Indeed, those authorities who have already identified such projects in their plans have received priority when consent allocations have been determined.
We also look to industry to invest in the necessary technology to meet consumer demand for recycled products. There is a wide range of research and development support schemes available to assist industry with innovative projects including recycling initiatives. Assistance is also available to voluntary bodies, in particular under the special grants (environmental) programme and the UK 2000 (Scotland) programme.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there are schemes available to Scottish local authorities equivalent to the reserve fund for innovative recycling projects, and the supplementary credit approval scheme which are available to local authorities in England and Wales for funding recycling projects; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas HamiltonThere is no reserve fund for innovative recycling projects but assistance may be given under the environmental technology innovation578W scheme which was launched in December last year and covers Scotland as well as England and Wales. In Scotland assistance may also be available through the special grant (environmental) programme which is equivalent to the environmental grant fund in England. However, neither of these sources of funding are appropriate for local authorities. The supplementary credit approval arrangements for controlling local authority capital expenditure do not apply in Scotland. We have an established procedure within which local authorities can seek capital expenditure allocations to cover recycling projects. A summary of the procedure is given in my reply of 24 January 1991 to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mr. Rost) at columns 306–07.