§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress his Department has made during the last six months in recycling waste.
§ Mr. Bob CryerMy Department has continued, in close co-operation with the Department of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, to support the work of the Waste Management Advisory Council and the Director of the National Anti-Waste Programme in encouraging the increased recovery and recycling of waste materials. A list of national priorities has been established in which the most important, in terms of resource and import savings, are waste paper and metal scrap. A national campaign was launched on 22nd June 1977 to encourage voluntary organisations to collect waste materials, and this has aroused considerable public interest. My Department is working in close consultation with the manufacturing and reclamation industries on these matters. Copies of the relevant booklet are available from the Vote Office.