§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made with his proposed offer of financial support for investment in newspaper recycling at Aylesford, Kent.
§ Mr. HeseltineOur proposal is to offer a £20 million grant under the assistance for exceptional projects facility to encourage the Swedish paper-making company SCA to invest in a newspaper recycling plant. We decided to offer this assistance because of the very significant environmental benefits which the project will provide. The plant would consume over 400,000 tonnes of newspapers and magazines, making a sizeable contribution to the Government's target to recycle 25 per cent. of household waste by the year 2000.
Our proposed grant needed the approval of the European Commission. After our discussions with the Commission, it has today announced that it can see no objection to our proposed offer. I and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment are delighted to have secured this result. The project is an important environmental project which we very much want to see happen.
The way is now clear for me to seek the authority of the House for the assistance I propose. I will lay before the House a resolution under section 8 (8) of the Industrial Development Act 1982 at the earliest opportunity. I shall then give full details about the project and the benefits it will bring.