§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding she is providing to(a) Gloucestershire and (b) local government in England to help with recycling projects; and if she will make a statement. [34638]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 8 February 2002]: The Government have increased funding for the Environmental Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block, which includes waste management, by £1.1 billion over the SR2000 period. There is also a ring-fenced fund of £140 million for local authority recycling and £220 million for waste private finance initiative projects over the same period. Councils will also benefit from the £40 million to the waste and resources action programme to overcome market barriers to reuse and recycling of waste.
The Department has just concluded a consultation on its proposals for the distribution of the £140 million fund. At this stage it is not possible to identify what funding Gloucestershire county council might receive from this source.