§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is now in a position to reply to the further letter sent to him on 28 October by the president of the National Association of Independent Businessmen regarding charges for trade refuse and to announce his decision on this long-standing problem;
(2) whether he has now received advice from the advisory committee on local government audit regarding charges for the collection of trade refuse, in view of the fact that the Chief Inspector of Audit submitted his report to the committee on 29 September 1980; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawMy right hon. Friend has received the second report of the advisory committee which contains advice on charges for the collection of trade refuse. The report will be submitted to the next meeting of the consultative council on local government finance, and I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is published. As to the letter to which my hon. Friend refers, my Department replied to this on 20 November. I am sending a copy of the reply to my hon. Friend.