§ Miss HoeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to encourage local authorities to adopt river-borne options for the transport of waste along the lines of the Government office for London's Thames strategy document; and how many London local authorities have contracted to move their waste by river rather than road. [32687]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe advantages of using the river for transport of bulk materials such as waste are highlighted in several items of guidance relating to both waste issues and planning. Planning policy guidance note 23 on "Planning and Pollution Control", states in 2.3 that, where 459W waste cannot be disposed of reasonably close to its source, priority should be given to the use of rail or water transport where this would reduce the overall environmental impact and is economically feasible. "A Waste Strategy for England and Wales" published as a consultation document in January 1995 refers to the advantages of river transport for waste in paragraph 1.61. The need to safeguard relevant riverside sites is an important issue. This message is set out in the Thames strategy report, the Thames gateway planning framework and the report by the River Thames working group. Copies of these documents are in the Library. Local authorities are encouraged to take full account of environmental factors in reaching decisions on the award of waste transport and disposal contracts but such decisions are matters for authorities alone.
I understand that, currently, seven London local authorities have contracts in place for the movement of waste by river.