§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list local authorities that are(a) failing to meet Government recycling targets, (b) expected to meet them and (c) exceeding them; and what estimate she has made of performance against targets for recycling in England in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05. [120778]
§ 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 to targets are for 2001–02. According to those figures there is a big difference amongst authorities in their progress to their individual 2003–04 targets: 12 per cent. of authorities are already recycling at the individual target level, but 16 per cent. have over 15 per cent. to go.
The intention to set targets for local authorities was set out in Waste Strategy 2000 and it is likely that many authorities have put, or are putting, schemes in place, the effects of which will not show up in data until 2002–03 or 2003–04.
The Audit Commission will make audited performance figures for the year 2002–03 available later this year.