To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2008, Official Report, column 511W, on Members: allowances, what rules in the Green Book apply to claims against the additional cost allowance for the costs of local authority charges for the collection of household rubbish; and if she will make a statement. (182201)

The rules in the Green Book allow hon. Members to stay overnight away from home in order to perform their parliamentary duties for which appropriate costs are reimbursed.

The Members Estimate Committee will review the Green Book in the light of the debate on Members' pay, pensions and allowances on 24 January 2008. Powers in the Climate Change Bill for local authorities to pilot waste incentive schemes for domestic waste are not yet in use. Consequently, no such claims have been received or paid. However, if charges are introduced as part of such schemes, the House will review whether it is appropriate to reimburse waste charges incurred by Members, given their purpose to act as a financial incentive to increase recycling and reduce the total amount of waste or whether, as with the congestion charge, Members are required to make all payments themselves.