Revealing that an announcement will be made in the “short future”, Environment Minister Michael Meacher said this morning that “a substantial level of support” could be made available from government but that care had to be taken with taxpayers’ money.
“We have been in discussions for a considerable time and are speaking to both shareholders. They believe that they cannot invest without government support. Hopefully in the short future we will have a solution to this problem.”
The minister was addressing the House of Commons Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee’s environment sub-committee into “Delivering sustainable waste management”.
Questioned as to what he meant by “short future”, Mr Meacher said “in the next few months”.
Mr Meacher emphasised: “I am very keen to see this matter resolved, we have to protect recycling.” And, he added, “It is a nonsense that we are importing newsprint”.
Andrew Bennett, chairman of the committee, remarked that perhaps the Treasury is vetoing money for the new machine, prompting Gywneth Dunwoody MP to respond “how could they think of such a thing”.
There is believed to be have been a battle between DETR, DTI and the Treasury over the grant with Aylesford MP Jonathan Shaw lobbying hard in favour of the newsprint mill. DTI has been closely examining the headings under which a grant could be made.
Donald Charlesworth, company secretary for Aylesford Newsprint, told letsrecycle.com that no final decision had yet been reached on the new paper machine although the company did have planning permission for it.
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