§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Department of Health regarding the(a) environmental and (b) financial effects of using cotton nappies in maternity wards. [159096]
§ Mr. MorleyI attended a meeting with the Minister for Health, and the Women's Environmental Network (WEN) in July last year to discuss the issues surrounding the use of re-usable nappies in hospitals.
WEN will be publishing a report on 29 March considering the issues raised at the meeting, a copy of which will be sent to me.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the Strategy Unit's report regarding the impact of initiatives to displace disposable nappy use on waste minimisation; and if she will make a statement. [160983]
§ Mr. MorleyThe aim of the measure on re-usable nappies outlined in the Strategy Unit report 'Waste Not Want Not' was to achieve an average diversion of 225kg a year per participating household.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme, which is taking forward this work on the Government's behalf, is aiming to have an additional 155,000 households using re-usable nappies by the end of fiscal year 2006.
This is an ambitious target. If achieved it would create a reduction in household waste of 35,000 tonnes.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initiatives her Department is taking to reduce landfill waste by encouraging alternatives to disposable nappies. [161167]
§ Mr. MorleyFollowing publication of the Strategy Unit Report the Government accepted the recommendation that the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) should take forward a waste minimisation initiative, which includes work on supporting re-usable nappies.
705WThe details of the programme are still being worked up but include support for new businesses and the provision of information to parents.