§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the environment (1) pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell),Official Report, columns 101–2, if he will make a statement on the new waste management licensing system;
(2) if he will make it his policy to proceed with the introduction of economic instruments relating to waste management before finalising the regulations implementing the EC framework directive on waste.
§ Mr. YeoOn the waste management licensing system, I refer to the answer I gave on 6 July,Official Report, column 80.
It is the Government's policy to use economic instruments in preference to regulation to achieve environmental goals. We have already introduced credits for recycling and we are actively considering whether to develop economic instruments to promote the reduction and recycling of waste and, if so, which instruments are likely to be most effective. There is no reason why these considerations should delay the introduction of the waste management licensing system.