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27 Nov 2006 : Column 316W—continued
Further information is available on the DEFRA website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/wastats/bulletin.htm.
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on waste management of Manchester's joint private finance initiative procurement; and if he will make a statement. [101116]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 21 November 2006]: The Greater Manchester waste private finance initiative (PFI) project is strategically important to the UK in terms of the sheer volume of municipal solid waste that will be managed, and the significant contribution it is projected to make in helping the UK meet EU landfill directive targets for the diversion of biodegradable municipal waste away from landfill. The project will commence in late 2007.
It is anticipated that the project will divert 8 per cent. of the total required tonnage in the target year 2020, based on the 2001-02 starting position. In recognition of the large proportion of biodegradable municipal waste the project is projected to divert, it has been allocated a comparatively large amount of PFI credits—£100 million—which is equivalent to £6.66 million per 100,000 tonnes of waste.
Waste Strategy
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of the waste industry in the course of his Department’s review of England’s Waste Strategy; [103335]
(2) what representations his Department received from (a) the Environmental Services Association, (b) the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management, (c) Veolia Environmental, (d) the Waste Recycling Group, (e) Cory Environmental, (f) SITA and (g) Shanks in the course of his Department’s review of England’s Waste Strategy. [103336]
Mr. Bradshaw: DEFRA Ministers and officials have met with various representatives of the waste industry in the course of our review of England’s Waste Strategy. In developing the draft strategy we have been working closely with stakeholders in an open and transparent manner using a wide range of consultation methods, including workshops, seminars, bilateral contacts and structured interviews. This was followed by a formal 12 week public consultation.
The Environmental Services Association, the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management, Cory Environmental, SITA UK and Shanks PFI Investments Limited all responded to our public consultation on the review of the Waste Strategy. I have arranged for copies of their responses to be placed in the Library of the House.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what distinctions are made between mass-burn incineration and anaerobic digestion in his Department’s policy on energy from waste. [103381]
Mr. Bradshaw:
There are several technologies available to derive energy from waste (EfW). The
Government do not favour mass burn incineration over other technologies such as refuse derived fuel, gasification and pyrolysis.
The Department’s policy is to classify anaerobic digestion of waste as a form of recycling, rather than EfW. As such, it benefits from inclusion in the recycling Best Value Performance Indicators. Electricity produced in anaerobic digestion plants also receives Renewable Obligation Certificates, which are not routinely available to EfW plants.
Water Industry
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made in implementing the conclusions of the Government’s Water Affordability Report of December 2004 in respect of low income families. [102631]
Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders) on 16 October 2006, Official Report, column 1076W.
Water Use
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what total water use was in England and Wales in each year since 1997, broken down by water company area. [103235]
Ian Pearson: Total water use, by the household and non-household sectors, for each water company since 1997-98 is shown in the following table.
| Water use 1997-98 to 2005-06 (Mld) | |||||||||
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | |
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