Oral Answers to Questions

Tony Baldry Excerpts

Thursday 24th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Spelman]

I have made it clear that my objective as part of the CAP reform negotiations is to get a better deal for Britain’s farmers and taxpayers. That should include, for example, proper recognition of the measures that farmers take to protect the environment at the same time as producing food in a sustainable way. The negotiations are at the early stages. It will be quite some time before we know how the UK will be affected, but my objective is to get us the best deal.

[Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con)]

On landfill, the coalition agreement says that the Government hope to promote energy from waste through anaerobic digestion. How will that be done?

[Mrs Spelman]

My hon. Friend, whose constituency is not far from mine, will perhaps have observed that our local authorities find that the increasing cost of the landfill tax is a strong incentive to try to reduce the amount of material that goes into recycling. There are opportunities for organic waste not to go to recycling at all; it is often composted by people who live in a rural or suburban locations. As regards anaerobic digestion, it is possible to consider collection from places where large quantities are produced, such as hospitals, catering outlets and schools.