To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 21 July 2009, Official Report, column 1654W, on fires: domestic waste, what the (a) budget and (b) timetable is for the research into fires in wheeled refuse containers. (319324)

The 2010-11 research programme is being drawn up at this time. We anticipate that draft research programmes will be considered by Ministers and we expect the outcomes of that process will be available in spring 2010.