§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Prime Minister whether the Government intend to give a Minister overall responsibility across Departments for recycling policy as recommended in the Trade and Industry Committee Report on "Wealth of Waste".
§ The Prime MinisterA Department of Trade and Industry Minister will have special co-ordinating responsibilities for issues which relate to reclamation and recycling. I have asked my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to assume this responsibility. He will not have decision making powers in areas which are properly the responsibility of other Ministers but he will have a particular responsibility for identifying any inconsistencies or omissions in Government policy, which would thenbe dealt with through the normal inter-departmental processes. He will also handle Parliamentary debates andquestions on general recycling matters which extend beyond the responsibilities of individual Ministers.
The Government's full response to the Select Committee is being made public by the Committee today.