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If he will publish (a) the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Packaging for Statutory Guidance to be made by the Environment Agencies under section 94(4) of the Environment Act 1995 and on accreditation of reprocessors and (b) the background analysis to his decision to adopt shared producer responsibility approach...

Asked by

John Whittingdale (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of the Environment

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

21 March 1997

Reference

292 c921W; 21826

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

How many cases of hospital admissions were due to ailments causes by children ingesting pharmaceutical products which they extracted from blisterpacks in the last year for which figures are available. - Info requested is not available centrally.

Asked by

Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

20 March 1997

Reference

20543; 292 c798W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

In what ways British standards covering the strength of blister pacts for pharmaceutical products differ from those applying in other European Union countries. - Information not available centrally.

Asked by

Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

17 March 1997

Reference

20541; 292 c472W

House

House of Commons

Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997

Draft SI on producer responsibility obligations (packaging waste). Debate on motion to approve. Agreed to on question.

Lead member

Robert B Jones

Answering member

Michael Meacher

Department

Department of the Environment

Type

Debates on delegated legislation

Date

3 March 1997

Reference

291 c637-58

House

House of Commons

Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997

Draft SI on producer responsibility obligations (packaging waste). Lords debate on motion to approve. Agreed to on question.

Lead member

Baroness Miller of Hendon

Answering member

Baroness Hilton of Eggardon

Department

Department of the Environment

Type

Debates on delegated legislation

Date

24 February 1997

Reference

578 c982-5

House

House of Lords

Dept of the Environment

When he expects to issue the statutory guidance regarding the Packaging Waste Regulations.

Asked by

Michael Meacher (Labour)

Answering body

Department of the Environment

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

19 February 1997

Reference

15574; 290 c582W

House

House of Commons

Dept of the Environment

What measures he is taking to help to minimise the effect on small businesses of the Producer Responsibility for Packaging Waste Directive. - Inc ref to 289 c222-310.

Asked by

Irvine Patnick (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of the Environment

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

For answer on

18 February 1997

Answered on

18 February 1997

Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to help to minimise the effect on small businesses of the producer responsibility for packaging waste directive. [15703] Mr. Robert B. Jones: Following extensive consultation with industry on the draft packaging waste regulations, John Gummer announced on 29 January, Official Report, columns 222-23, the modifications that we propose to make in the light of the comments and proposals received. Among the changes announced were measures to help small businesses. We are proposing a staged approach to the new system, bringing in the largest businesses first, and we have introduced a turnover element to the cut-off threshold which should assist smaller businesses in establishing whether they will be obligated under the regulations. Businesses with a turnover of £5 million or less, and who handle 50 tonnes of packaging or less, will not be obligated in the years 1997 to 1999. With effect from 1 January 2000, the small business threshold applies to those with turnover of £1 million or less or who handle 50 tonnes of packaging or less. In addition, the provision that wholesalers take the selling obligation for small retailers will take effect from 1 January 2000. These changes will mean that the number of businesses obligated in the first few years will be in the region of 4,000 rising to around 9,000 by the year 2000. This compares with a total of over 250,000 businesses who handle packaged goods. A further measure which will help small businesses is the development of a ready reckoner or packaging catalogue to ease the collection of data and my Department has now commissioned contractors to this end.

Date

18 February 1997

Reference

15703; 290 c445W

House

House of Commons

Dept of the Environment

What recent representations he has received regarding the regulations on producer responsibility for packaging waste. (Failed OPQ).

Asked by

Tom Cox (Labour)

Answering body

Department of the Environment

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

4 February 1997

Reference

12514; 289 c530W

House

House of Commons

Dept of the Environment

Statement on today laying before Parliament the draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations. - Inc ref to Advisory Committee on Packaging recommendations in the Library (Dep/3 4507) and 287 c614-16W.

Asked by

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of the Environment

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

For answer on

29 January 1997

Answered on

29 January 1997

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to lay before Parliament the draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) regulations; and if he will make a statement. [13438] Mr. Gummer: I am today laying before Parliament the draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations which are subject to affirmative resolution procedure. These regulations are the outcome of a lengthy process of dialogue and consultation with business about the means by which the United Kingdom can achieve a more sustainable approach to the 8 million tonnes of packaging waste which it generates each year. Packaging is the largest recyclable element in the domestic waste stream and our goal is to double the amount which we are currently recovering. Government's objective has been to find a policy framework within which the efficiency and innovation of the market can be allowed to function successfully to achieve this goal and these regulations reflect a successful partnership between Government and industry. I pay tribute to the numerous individuals and companies from all sectors of industry for their contribution to this process and in particular to the Advisory Committee on Packaging chaired by Sir Peter Parker which has helped in the preparation of these regulations. I am happy to agree the committee's proposal for its continuing review and I am placing copies of the advisory committee's recent recommendations in the Library. The regulations are based on the shared producer responsibility approach agreed by industry on 15 December 1995. Draft regulations were published for consultation in July 1996 and I announced on 18 December 1996, Official Report, columns 614-16, the main modifications I proposed to make in the light of consultation. The regulations will, I believe, create a market incentive for businesses both to reduce packaging waste and find cost-effective ways of recycling or otherwise obtaining value from packaging waste. In particular, they provide for industry-led "compliance" schemes to be established to take on businesses' obligations for them, thus relieving them of much of the necessary administrative burden or for businesses to choose to comply with their obligations individually if they wish. The regulations also set down a staged approach to the obligations that businesses are required to discharge and include a staged threshold for smaller businesses. The regulations will enable the UK to meet the recycling and recovery targets contained in the EC directive on packaging and packaging waste, 94/62/EC. I propose to keep the regulations under review on an annual basis in the light of the progress which the UK is making towards the recycling and recovery targets. Effective measures will need to be in place to ensure that the UK is in a position to achieve and to continue to achieve the Directive targets. However, I will want to consider whether these provisions remain fully necessary and appropriate in this form, while also taking account of the views of the advisory committee on the need for changes arising from the review which it will complete in 1998. A further statement will be made about implementation of other aspects of the packaging directive.

Legislation

Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997

Date

29 January 1997

Reference

13438; 289 c222-3W

House

House of Commons

Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997

Draft SI on producer responsibility obligations (packaging waste). (Affirmative instrument). Approved by Parliament. Made 5 March 1997 (SI 1997/648). Coming into force 6 March 1997.

Department

Department of the Environment

Type

Statutory instruments

Date

29 January 1997

Reference

SI 1997/648

House

House of Commons; House of Lords

Dept of the Environment

When the Government plans to implement the Producer Responsibility (Packaging Waste) Regulations. - Hope to lay draft regulations before House by end of January.

Asked by

Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of the Environment

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

22 January 1997

Reference

11803; 288 c647W

House

House of Commons

Dept of the Environment

When he intends to publish the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations. - Hope to do so before the end of January.

Asked by

Joan Ruddock (Labour)

Answering body

Department of the Environment

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

16 January 1997

Reference

11174; 288 c313W

House

House of Commons

Wednesday adjournment debate on sustainable waste management

Wednesday adjournment debate on sustainable waste management.

Lead member

Bill O'Brien

Answering member

James Clappison

Department

Department of the Environment

Type

Adjournment debates

Date

15 January 1997

Reference

288 c287-93

House

House of Commons

Dept of Transport

What estimate he has made of the quantity of (a) polystyrene products and (b) packaging currently being transported via the Channel Tunnel. - No estimates of this kind have been made.

Asked by

Harry Cohen (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Transport

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

18 December 1996

Reference

9867; 287 c663W

House

House of Commons

Dept of the Environment

Statement on consideration to responses to the consultation paper he issued in July on the Producer Responsibility (Packaging Waste) Regulations. - Includes table.

Asked by

David Martin (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of the Environment

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

For answer on

18 December 1996

Answered on

18 December 1996

Mr. David Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has considered the responses to the consultation paper he issued in July on the Producer Responsibility (Packaging Waste) Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [10475] Mr. Gummer: Together with my colleagues the President of the Board of Trade, and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, I published proposals in July which aim to secure an effective business led approach to meeting the environmental goal of a more sustainable approach to packaging waste. This followed a lengthy process of consultation with a wide range of business sectors and is based on the industry agreement on the shared approach achieved on 15 December 1995. The system we propose is based on four guiding principles: using the market to reflect the cost of dealing with waste in the price the consumer pays; a shared approach involving all parts of the packaging chain; the lightest regulatory approach giving the maximum scope for obligated businesses to self-certify and self-assess their obligations and to perform those obligations through business run schemes, or individually subject to monitoring by the environment agencies. continuing industry involvement in monitoring, reviewing and proposing changes to the system through the Advisory Committee on Packaging. We have had a wide range of responses to the consultation paper including 100 from trade associations representing 53,000 member businesses and a further 348 from individual businesses and, other interested organisations. Most respondents endorsed the overall framework and the basic provisions which flow from the 15 December agreement. However, the responses did raise specific concerns on issues such as timetable, the level of interim targets, the cut-off threshold for small businesses, the wholesaler obligation and the scope and nature of exemptions. I have considered these and have sought the views of Sir Peter Parker and the Advisory Committee for Packaging and I am grateful to have their further comments which will be published separately. I therefore intend to make the following modifications to the draft regulations which will be subject to parliamentary debate. To allow businesses sufficient time to assess the implications of the regulations for them and the merits of joining a collective business scheme such as VALPAK, I propose to delay the first requirement for registration and provision of data until the summer of 1997 and I will make a further announcement shortly. The date for the renewal of registration and the provision of data will, from 1998 onwards, be 1 April. A further concern raised related to the proposed interim targets for recovery and recycling which could place an unnecessarily high burden on some businesses and particularly on those who handle materials which are harder to recover. Many felt that a slower build-up to the full directive targets in 2001 targets would be more realistic. I therefore propose to revise the interim targets on individual businesses as follows: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Minimum recycling target for Overall recovery target Recovery of UK packaging waste each material 1998-99 7 38 32 2000 11 43 40 2001 16 {1}52 50 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Of which a minimum of 26 per cent. must be recycling. These targets will enable the UK to meet the recycling and recovery targets set out in the EC directive on packaging and packaging waste, 94/62 EC. I have also taken account of the representations that some sectors of industry will have greater difficulty in adapting to the proposed obligations than others, particularly in the case of small firms. I also consider that the most effective means of introducing the new system will be to take a staged approach starting with the largest businesses. I therefore propose to adopt a phased approach in relation to the following aspects: No business with a turnover of less than £5 million, or that handled less than 50 tonnes of packaging will have an obligation in the years 1997 to 1999, but from 1 January 2000 an eligible business with a turnover of £1 million or more and that handled more than 50 tonnes of packaging will be obligated. The proposed wholesaler obligation will apply from 1 January 2000. I am confident that a phased approach will allow these sectors additional time to prepare and work up methods for meeting recycling and recovery objectives in a form which meets their needs. I have considered also issues raised by those who handle packaging which is or is associated with special or hazardous waste. Where packaging is likely to become special waste, producers will not need to include it when calculating their recovery and recycling obligations, but they will need to provide data and indicate the steps taken to promote or increase its recovery. This amendment should assist those producers that handle packaging whose hazardous or contaminated nature require special disposal arrangements. I also propose to place an obligation on production of reusable packaging but to exempt it when it is reused. Other more detailed changes will be set out in the published regulations. I also recognise that for many businesses a major concern is not the recycling and recovery effort itself but the means of gathering data. Some businesses already have good data systems while many trade associations and the Industry Council on Packaging and the Environment are already working to develop sector guides and assistance with definitions and other guidance. I intend to support this work and to make available, to help to start the system, a very simple ready reckoner which businesses can use to meet the initial requirement for a best estimate expressed in tonnes per annum. The environment agencies who will monitor and enforce the regulations will charge a fee to individual businesses and collective schemes to cover the costs of their functions. In the light of consultation, and taking account of the changes listed above I purpose to set the fee for individual businesses at £750 per annum and to offer schemes a rebate of up to 87 per cent. of this according to the size of their membership. The advisory committee is continuing its work on implementation of the system and is currently considering matters relating to evidence of compliance and recent representations it has received on the issue of equitable participation in household waste recovery. It is also preparing for its review of the system as a whole. On these and other issues, it will publish its findings as appropriate and I am fully committed to supporting its continuing role.

Date

18 December 1996

Reference

10475; 287 c614-6W

House

House of Commons

Scottish Office

What plans he has to legislate to require companies in Scotland to include a minimum level of recycled content within packaging for products on sale.

Asked by

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Scottish Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

5 December 1996

Reference

6824; 286 c776W;286 c774W

House

House of Commons

PACKAGING WASTE REGULATIONS

That this House supports moves to increase the recovery and recycling of packaging waste; welcomes the forthcoming Packaging Waste Regulations; reaffirms the commitment to the shared responsibility' principle whereby all parts of the packaging chain undertake to help recover and recycle packaging waste; notes with concern that the regulations as...

Primary sponsor

Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour)

Type

Early day motions

Date

4 December 1996

Reference

299

House

House of Commons

Wednesday adjournment debate on waste recycling in Scotland

Wednesday adjournment debate on waste recycling in Scotland.

Lead member

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope

Answering member

George Kynoch

Department

Scottish Office

Type

Adjournment debates

Date

20 November 1996

Reference

285 c937-43

House

House of Commons

Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 1996

SI 1996/2817 (Negative instrument). Coming into force 1 January 1997.

Department

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Type

Statutory instruments

Date

18 November 1996

Reference

SI 1996/2817

House

House of Commons; House of Lords

Dept of the Environment

What plans he has to meet representatives of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents to discuss the Directive on Producer Responsibility for Packaging Waste; and what steps DOE is taking to mitigate the impact of the directive on producer responsibility on packaging waste on small businesses with particular reference to...

Asked by

Irvine Patnick (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of the Environment

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

15 November 1996

Reference

285 c377-8W; 3666;3665

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher