§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on existing targets set to minimise waste in his Department. [11539]
§ Mr. MorleyUnder the Department's action plan for green housekeeping, there is a requirement on all our sites to minimise the generation of waste. So far, it has not been considered appropriate to set specific targets in what is a diverse and changing departmental estate. Although the scope for setting targets remains under consideration, a series of formal environmental audits of our laboratory sites is planned for later in 1997–98.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the amount, and proportion, of paper recycled by his Department in each of the last five years. [11540]
§ Mr. MorleyThis information is not available. Paper recycling schemes are in operation at many of the Ministry's 230 sites and the responsibility for handling such schemes is decentralised. At our London headquarters buildings, 37 tonnes of good-quality waste paper was recycled during 1996–97, which considerably exceeded expectations.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce a waste minimisation strategy for his Department. [11538]
§ Mr. MorleyA waste minimisation strategy already forms part of the Department's action plan for green housekeeping, with the objective of reducing the amount of waste produced, encouraging recycling schemes and reusing materials. A leaflet and notices have been issued to all staff and local campaigns have been undertaken to encourage participation, including exhibitions, presentations and the introduction of schemes for recycling paper, tin cans and other materials.