§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines to local authorities in Wales based on the report to the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretary of State for the Environment, submitted by the packaging industry producer responsibility group entitled, "Real Value from Packaging Waste—A Way Forward".
§ Mr. RedwoodNo. The plans are still out to consultation.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to earmark specific grants for demonstration schemes in recycling municipal waste by Welsh local authorities; what representations he has had from Cardiff city council in relation to the costs and benefits already achieved from its green bag recycling, and its possible extension; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodAuthorities may be eligible for support under the EC LIFE programme, and may apply for help under the strategic development scheme run by the Welsh Office.
Cardiff city council has made a number of representations seeking additional revenue support for recycling schemes. As the arrangements for distributing resources are agreed with the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance, the city council has been advised to pursue the matter with Council of Welsh Districts representatives on that body.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he proposes to ensure that Welsh local authorities are not omitted from any general Government initiatives to support existing recycling schemes or new recycling initiatives, with particular reference to those initiatives based on the Valpak scheme proposed by the packaging industry producer responsibility group.
§ Mr. RedwoodLocal authorities themselves take steps to ensure that they take advantage of existing and new initiatives, including any opportunities to increase recycling activity in their area that may be presented by the producer responsibility group's proposals for packaging waste. I am keen to see local authorities in Wales hit the target for recycling one quarter of all household waste.
198W
Region/Country Applications received Applications received after closure date Grants awarded Expenditure committed £ South East 167 — 9 1,728,055 East 39 — 3 564,180 South West 47 — — — East Midlands 34 — 2 138,025 West Midlands 62 1 8 1,494,910 Yorkshire and Humberside 40 — 3 584,699 North West 65 1 7 1,064,020 North East 19 — 1 24,186 Scotland 33 — 1 835,120 Wales 14 — — — Northern Ireland 1 — — —