To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information the Waste Improvement Network has provided to local authorities on the procurement of containers for the collection of household waste. (286526)

The Waste Improvement Network (WIN) exists to share information between councils and publish guidance from all available sources in one place on waste management issues. It does not issue advice directly to councils. However, WIN promotes existing framework contracts which can be used to procure bins, and provides links to general information, guidance, advice and case studies from available sources on both procurement and waste collection strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will direct the Bird Management Unit of the Food and Environment Research Agency to conduct research into the effect on the prevalence of (a) vermin and (b) insects of different modes of collection of household waste. (286530)

DEFRA currently has no plans to commission research into the effect on the prevalence of ‘vermin’ or insects of different modes of collection of household waste.