To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities have (a) applied for and (b) obtained the private finance initiative credits announced in Budget 2009. (292149)

Since 6 April 2009, of the waste projects included in the Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review there has been:

(a) One project consisting of three waste disposal authorities namely, Coventry City Council in partnership with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council under the name “Project Transform”. This project received approval from HM Treasury's Project Review Group in May 2009.

(b) One project, Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority's waste Private Finance Initiative (PFI) awarded credits in April 2009 by DEFRA. The Authority submitted a claim form for PFI annuity grant (PFI Revenue Support payments) in August 2009.