§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how (1) much his Department has allocated for waste recycling projects undertaken by(a) local authorities, (h) non-profit making organisations and (c) industry in financial years (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04; [90450]
(2) how much her Department has allocated for waste recycling projects undertaken by (a) local authorities, (b) non-profit making organisations and (c)industry in financial years (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04. [90449]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 13 January 2003]: I have been asked to reply.
The main source of funding for local authority waste services is through the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) Standard Spending Assessment (SSA).
The EPCS SSA provides for a wide range of local authority services including libraries, local transport and flood defence, as well as waste. In total, the provision for the block is:
- 2002–03: £8,961 million
- 2003–04: £9,435 million
Provision for waste services is not separately identified within the total.
We have provided £50 million additional funding for 2002–03 and £90 million for 2003–04 through a £140 million Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund to encourage local authorities to expand recycling operations in their area.
A high proportion of our PFI funding supports recycling as set out in the criteria of September 2000. £220 million was allocated to PFI in Spending Review 2000 for the three years up to 2003–04. £70 million was allocated in the financial year 2002–03 and £100 million in 2003–04. These represent capital sums and not the revenue payments associated with them.
We have provided funding for two projects from the Environmental Action Fund (EAF) in 2002–03 under the 'Understanding and Awareness' heading. £200,000 has been awarded to the Community Recycling 619W Network and £30,750 to the Recycling Consortium in 2002–03. The funding allocation through the EAF for 2003–04 has not yet been announced.
Environmental Campaigns (ENCAMS), a non-profit making organisation funded by DEFRA, spent £210,000 in 2002–03 on waste recycling projects: (£150,000 on textile recycling and £60,000 through its Pathfinder programme). ENCAMS do not have any waste recycling projects scheduled for 2003–04.
DEFRA contribute £10,225 million for each of the years 2002–03 and 2003–04 to the Waste and Resources Action Programme to work with the commercial and industrial sectors to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products and removing the barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.