§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to place anaerobic digestion on an equal level with composting in the Government's waste hierarchy. [132663]
§ Margaret BeckettThe Government have agreed that anaerobic digestion should be treated as a contributor to both composting and energy recovery within the Municipal Waste Best Value Indicators. A consultation document seeking views on the options for bringing anaerobic digestion into the composting category of best value and for determining the method for allocating the proportions of treated waste that count towards composting and energy recovery was issued on 15 October. It can be viewed on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ consult /anaerobic-digestion.