§ Mr. PoundTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in developing a new waste strategy for England and Wales. [45124]
§ Mr. MeacherI promised earlier this year that I would begin the process of preparing a new national waste strategy with a wide ranging public consultation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I will be launching tomorrow, at the Institute of Waste Management Centenary Conference in Torbay, a consultation paper: "Less Waste: More Value", which sets out the key principles underlying our approach, and seeks views on how to improve the way our society deals with its waste.
The consultation exercise will last through the Summer. We will be looking for views from a wide range of people and organisations, and want to provoke a wide debate on the options open to us and the best way to take waste management into the twenty-first century. The 420W consultation period will end on 25 September, after which we will carefully study all the views presented to us and start drafting the new waste strategy.
Copies will be sent to hon. Members, and will also be available tomorrow morning in the Library of the House.