§ Mr. BurgonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what response he received to the consultation on the Composting Development Group report; and if he will make a statement. [62526]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Composting Development Group Report was published in July as a consultation paper. The response was overwhelmingly positive with widespread support for its recommendation.
The Government welcome the Report as a significant step forward in the development and promotion of composting. We consider that its conclusions are sound and we endorse the thrust of its recommendations, which successfully address the major barriers to marketing compost and identify practical ways forward to help overcome them. We broadly accept those recommendations directed specifically at Government Departments, though we need to consider carefully how best to implement them. I commend the other recommendations to the relevant organisations and bodies which the Report identifies and urge them to make every effort to implement them.
The Department received 75 responses. A list of responses received has been placed in the Library of the House; copies of individual responses may be obtained through the DETR Library.