§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government fund any research toward clean technology and alternative sewage disposal methods; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe Department's environmental protection technology—EPT—scheme offers shared funding for research in defined priority areas which could lead to improvements in environmental standards. Two of the current EPT scheme priority areas concern reduction of polluting substances in industrial waste water. Sewage disposal methods are not at present within the scope of the scheme. The Department has however recently funded research, jointly with the water industry, on sewage sludge treatment processes and the safe disposal of sewage sludge on agricultural land. It is also open to companies and research establishments to come forward with proposals for collaborative research and development in any field of clean technology under the Department of Trade and Industry's research and technology initiatives.