§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent922W assessment she has made of the number of local authorities that are meeting their targets for recycling; and if she will make a statement. [119700]
§ Mr. MorleyLocal authority Statutory Performance Standards ('targets') for recycling and composting of household waste have been set for the years 2003–04 and 2005–06. Local authorities will submit performance data, against which the 2003–04 targets will be measured, to the Audit Commission in summer 2004 and audited performance figures will be available towards the end of 2004.
Targets for individual authorities are published on Defra's website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/management/guidance/mwms/10.htm.
The most recent data on progress towards achieving targets are for 2001–02. Local authority figures are available through the Best Value Performance Indicator website at www.bvpi.gov.uk. These data show a wide range in performance with some authorities already achieving their individual targets and others, generally with the larger percentage increases, still with some way to go. Data for future years are more likely to show the impact of action being taken to achieve targets which were only set in 2001.
The Audit Commission will make audited performance figures for the year 2002–03 available later this year.