§ Ms ShipleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress of the waste management strategy. [18011]
§ Mr. MeacherSince launching the national waste strategy in May last year the Government have set demanding statutory targets for the recycling and composting of household waste for each local authority, increased the landfill tax and consulted on a system of tradeable landfill permits in order to achieve the diversion from landfill required. It has also set up the Waste and Resources Action Programme to help create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products, with funding from the Government and the devolved Administrations of around £40 million over three years.
Extra funding has been made available to enable waste authorities to meet the Statutory Performance Standards for recycling and composting that are now in place. Spending Review 2000 included an increase of £1.1 billion by 2003–04 over 2000–01 provision as well as the provision of other sources of funding including the ring-fenced fund of £140 million specifically for recycling and £220 million of PFI funding for waste projects.
The Government are currently in consultation with local authorities on the best way to distribute the £140 million fund. copies of the consultation paper are available on the DEFRA website at www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/con sult/wastefund/index. htm.