To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his proposed timetable for legislation on economic instruments to promote the reduction and recycling of household waste; and what options the Government propose to enact.

We are currently examining the responses to our consultants' reports on economic instruments for waste. In the light of those responses, we are actively considering whether to develop economic instruments to promote the reduction and recycling of waste and, if so, which instruments are likely to be most effective.