To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 29 October 2008, Official Report, column 1155W, on waste disposal, what (a) advice and (b) guidance has been issued to local authorities by (i) her Department and (ii) the Audit Commission on achieving efficiency savings by moving to alternate weekly collections of household waste. (245927)

No advice or guidance has been issued to local authorities by the Department or the Audit Commission that specifically deals with the achievement of efficiency gains by moving to alternate weekly collections of household waste. The Department has issued general guidance to councils on the measurement of efficiencies; the current version of this guidance is available at:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/local government/reportingvfmguide