§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps his Department has taken since September 1974 and the publication of "War on Waste", Command Paper No. 5727, to implement that report.
§ Mr. CryerThe Government have set up the Waste Management Advisory Council to review the development of waste management in the United Kingdom and to make recommendations aimed at increasing the recycling of waste materials. Its first report was published in January 1976. Dr. Robert Berry was appointed Director of the National Anti-Waste Programme in the same month to carry forward the work of the council. I expect the council at its next meeting to suggest areas in which priority action might achieve gross resource and import savings and to recommend ways in which the general public can assist in the war on waste.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he has taken to stabilise markets for recycled materials.
§ Mr. CryerIn June the Government introduced a £23 million scheme to assist the paper and board industry to increase its use of waste paper and other indigenous fibres. The aim is to bring about a substantial increase in waste paper usage, and hence a more assured demand for waste paper in the future. The Waste Management Advisory Council will con-718W tinue to consider whether action is needed with respect to other commodities.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secrtary of State for Industry what regulatory or financial measures he has taken to encourage reclamation of waste.
§ Mr. CryerThe processing of scrap and waste materials is a qualifying activity under the Industry Act 1972. In addition the Government have introduced a £23 million scheme to assist the paper and board industry to increase its use of waste paper and other indigenous fibres. The Waste Management Advisory Council is advising Ministers on any further measures required by way of regulations or new schemes of support.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Industry, what measures he has taken to encourage industry to design products that are intended to reduce waste.
§ Mr. CryerThe Waste Management Advisory Council has already drawn attention in its first report to the important part design has to play in reducing waste. This is a complex subject with wide-ranging implications that' require more study before a comprehensive policy can be devised. Much is already being done by industry in this respect, since discouraging waste in production processes makes good commercial and economic sense.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how much money his Department spent on pub-licensing the need to reclaim waste and methods of reclaiming waste during the last five years;
(2) what plans he has to increase publicity and make information available on the need to reclaim waste and the methods available to do it.
§ Mr. Cryer£62,600 has been sponsored through the Central Office of Information on waste recovery for my Department's Warren Spring Laboratory. Additionally, publicity has been arranged inTrade and Industry and in other ways. Guidance on waste collection is currently being prepared for voluntary organisations. A wider publicity programme is being developed.
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§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money the Government have spent during the last five and the last two years on research into waste reclamation.
§ Mr. CryerMy Department, through its Requirements Boards, has spent £660,000 and £486,000 during the last five and two financial years respectively on specific waste reclamation and recovery projects.