§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department is working to make new parents aware of the environmental implications of using disposable nappies. [159094]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 9 March 2004]The Waste and Resources Action Programme has a waste minimisation programme which includes work to ensure parents are given sufficient information to make an informed choice on whether to use re-usable or disposable nappies. This involves, among other things, the employment of a health professional to undertake work in maternity units.
The Environment Agency is undertaking a Life Cycle Analysis to assess the environmental impacts of both reusable and disposable nappies. The aim is to publish this in the spring.