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Pay-as-you-throw charges are still being discussed

Pay-as-you-throw bin charges have raised their heads again after the Government insisted they could be "important" to encourage recycling.

Gordon Brown appeared to have driven a stake through the heart of the controversial idea 10 days ago by signalling that he would veto any roll-out.

The briefings from Downing Street sparked anger because the taxpayer was already committed to spending £7.5 million on pilot schemes.

However, the confusion deepened when the Government praised the concept in a response to the Communities and Local Government Committee.

The submission stated: "The Government would not be running pilots if it did not think that the policy could have an important impact on reducing the amount of waste which goes to landfill. Evidence from overseas strongly supports this view."

Mr Brown first appeared to jettison bin charges last year when Number 10 stepped in at the last moment to block an announcement giving all councils powers to introduce schemes.

There was a degree of surprise when the go-ahead was subsequently given for five pilot projects.

But, in the wake of his local elections mauling on May 1, the Prime Minister intervened once again by signalling his opposition to taking the idea further.

Mr Brown's stance is thought to be at odds with senior Cabinet figures who support pay-as-you-throw, including Environment Secretary Hilary Benn and Foreign Secretary David Miliband.