§ Mr. SinghTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will be publishing the revised guidance to local authorities on the preparation and revision of recycling plans. [32605]
§ Mr. MeacherMy hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths), the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, will be launching the revised guidance in Cardiff on Monday 2 March. Copies will be sent to all waste collection authorities later that week and copies will also be placed in the Library of the House.
405WIn addition, I am directing all waste collection authorities in England to investigate if their present plans need updating. Where an authority identifies the need to revise its plan, I hope that the revised plan can be in place by the end of the year.
The Government are keen for local authorities to make every effort to achieve the target of recovering value from 40 per cent. of municipal waste by 2005. While many authorities have developed advanced and successful systems, others have yet fully to consider the need for, and the potential benefits of, recycling.
This Department and the Welsh Office received 81 responses to the consultation on the report of the Review Group on the Local Authority Role in Recycling. A list of responses received has been placed in the Library of the House copies of individual responses may be obtained through my Department's Library.