To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research was commissioned by his Department on biogas production in (a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 2000. (205864)

Since 2000 DEFRA has spent £720,000 on research and development into biogas production. Current work includes the UK contribution to a EU FP7 Biogas project (£300,000 over four years). This project is due to complete in 2010 and will result in a synthesis of information required to assess the development of a sustainable biogas industry in the UK.

The Waste and Resources Action programme (WRAP) has also conducted research on food waste processing, including anaerobic digestion. This can be found on WRAP'S website:

www.wrap.org.uk/biowaste

DEFRA holds the research and development budget and commissions research relevant to England and Wales.

DEFRA also launched the Waste Implementation programme's £30 million Demonstrator programme to demonstrate innovative waste treatments technologies as possible alternatives to landfill. The programme aims to prove the economic, social and environmental viability (or not) of each selected technology.