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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to transition to a circular economy for construction; and what assessment they have made of (1) current construction and demolition waste levels; (2) targets and timelines for waste reduction; (3) methods to increase materials reuse and recycling; (4) economic opportunities in waste minimisation; and (5) any regulatory frameworks which may need to be implemented.

The Secretary of State has asked Defra to convene a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts from industry, academia, civil society, and the civil service to develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England and a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the Government will make on a sector-by-sector basis.

Additionally, the Secretary of State has convened a Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy that will govern, join up and drive Circular Economy work across government departments to support the government’s Missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower.

We will consider the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluate what further interventions may be needed in the construction and waste sectors as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy.