§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what proportion of waste from the Houses of Parliament is currently recycled; and what plans he has to improve that proportion.
§ Mr. Ray PowellIt is not possible to say precisely what proportion of total waste from the Houses of Parliament, which includes kitchen refuse, is recycled, but all paper and glass is collected by a contractor and recycled. Arrangements have been made during the past year for metal cans to be collected and sorted off site so that they, too, can be recycled. The Parliamentary Works Department also retains reusable timber and metal from building projects. Proposals are currently being sought for the collection and recycling of plastics, although it is too early to say whether any of these will prove viable.