§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs news release 244/02 of 25 June, what progress has been made in putting into place arrangements to distribute the Capital Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund, specifically for the London region; when work on making the arrangements began; and what completion target has been set for the distribution of the £21.3 million. [HL4993]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)Officials have been involved in negotiating the formal contract between DEFRA and London Waste Action which is leading on behalf of a partnership of the Mayor of London, the Association of London Government and London Waste Action. This process is nearing completion. The partnership has drawn up a comprehensive scheme to cover the arrangements for the evaluation and approval of applications to the Capital Fund.
Work on the detailed negotiations between DEFRA and the partnership began in March 2002.
The partnership has approved a delivery strategy and business plan that sets out the priorities for the fund and its spending plans. Under the terms of the draft contract this will require approval by DEFRA. The fund intends to have allocated the total £21.3 million by April 2003.