Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring targets for waste incineration help progress on the (a) Government's net zero emissions target and (b) circular economy.

There have been no recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues specifically on targets for waste incineration. However, powers being adopted via the Environment Bill will require the Government to set long-term, legally binding environmental targets, with at least one within the area of Resource Efficiency and Waste Reduction. My department is exploring how targets can help to reduce the amount of 'residual' waste we generate.

Officials are currently gathering evidence to enable Ministerial decisions on the targets, which will be consulted on in the new year.