asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list of the local authorities which have contracted out to private enterprise the collection of (a) domestic refuse and (b) industrial refuse; and what steps he is taking to encourage more local authorities to adopt this course of action.

Industrial waste is already collected almost exclusively by the private sector.The following local authorities* contracted out a proportion of their domestic refuse collection service during 1978–79:

Local authority	% contracted out
Maldon	95
Mid Bedfordshire	50
Hartlepool	23
Redditch	22
Corby	9
Malvern Hills	6
Spelthome	5
Peterborough	5
Rushcliffe	3
Chorley	2
Rugby	2
Basildon	1
Carlisle	1
Fenland	1
Kettering	1

*Based on returns from 314 of the 366 English collection authorities.I understand that Rochford district council has decided to use private contractors for its entire refuse collection service from 1 July, and that other authorities are also considering this possibility.I take every opportunity to encourage more authorities to give careful thought to privatisation, not necessarily as a panacea, but because it offers the possibility of improved efficiency and flexibility.